Vice President Mike Pence (R) on Wednesday confronted Venezuela's Ambassador to the United Nations during a hearing at the body's Security Counsel. Pence used the opportunity to call on Ambassador Samuel Moncada to step down and tell the country's dictator, Nicolas Maduro, to leave office.
"Up to this point, while other international bodies have acted, the United Nations and this Security Counsel have refused to act. But now that nations across this hemisphere have spoken, the time has come for the United Nations to recognize Interim President Juan Guaido as the legitimate president of Venezuela and seat his representative in this body," Pence said. "This body should revoke the credentials of Venezuela's representative to the United Nations, recognize Interim President Juan Guaido and seat the representative of the free Venezuelan government in this body without delay."
While Pence made his address, Ambassador Moncada was seen on his phone. At that time, Pence spoke to him directly.
"With all due respect, Mr. Ambassador, you shouldn't be here. You should return to Venezuela and tell Nicolas Maduro his time is up. It's time for him to go," Pence told Moncada, who was seen shaking his head in disagreement.
During the same testimony, Pence made the U.N. aware of America's plan to provide $61 million in humanitarian assistance to the people of Venezuela, Fox News reported. The funds are in addition to the $213 million the State Department has already provided Venezuelan refugees who are living in nearby countries and $43 million in development and economic assistance.
Latin American countries, as well as the United States, have recognized Guaido as the true leader of the country. Russia, Iran, China and Cuba, on the other hand, are among the countries that have backed Maduro.
The United Nations should revoke the credentials of Venezuela’s ambassador to the @UN, recognize Interim President @jguaido, and seat a representative of the free Venezuelan government in this body without delay! pic.twitter.com/1CRhBBr5J6
— Vice President Mike Pence (@VP) April 10, 2019