Russian ambassador to the United Nations Vasily Nebenzya, left, speaks to the United States special envoy to Venezuela Elliott Abrams before the start of a Security Council meeting at U.N. headquarters, Thursday, Feb. 28, 2019. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
UNITED NATIONS 鈥� Backing rival sides in Venezuela, the United States and Russia failed Thursday to get the deeply divided United Nations Security Council to take a stand on how to address the Latin American nation鈥檚 political conflict and humanitarian crisis sparked by an economic downturn worse than the United States鈥� Great Depression.
The council rejected their rival resolutions 鈥� the U.S. measure backing opposition leader Juan Guaido and calling for free and fair elections; the Russian draft supporting President Nicolas Maduro and opposing interference in Venezuelan affairs and any threats of military intervention.
As expected, Russia and China vetoed the U.S. draft resolution, and Moscow鈥檚 proposal failed to win majority support. The results highlighted the inability of the U.N.鈥檚 most powerful body to address the worsening situation in Venezuela.
Immediately before the votes, Russian Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia accused the United States of engaging in 鈥渟hameless propaganda鈥� with the goal of 鈥渞egime change.鈥�
He expressed concern that the council meeting 鈥渕ay be exploited as a step for preparations for a real 鈥� not humanitarian 鈥� intervention.鈥�
U.S. envoy for Venezuela Elliott Abrams said after the vote that 鈥渢he time for a peaceful transition to democracy is now.鈥� He accused opponents of the U.S. resolution of prolonging the suffering of Venezuelans and continuing 鈥渢o shield Maduro and his cronies.鈥�
Speaking to reporters later about when Maduro might go, Abrams said, 鈥淲e hope that it鈥檚 as little time as possible.鈥�
He reiterated U.S. concerns about Guaido鈥檚 safety and security when he returns to Venezuela and expressed hope that all council members 鈥渨ill join us in doing so.鈥�
The U.S. draft resolution received nine 鈥測es鈥� votes 鈥� the minimum number required for adoption 鈥� and three 鈥渘o鈥� votes from veto-wielding Russia and China as well as South Africa. Indonesia, Equatorial Guinea, and Ivory Coast abstained.
The vetoed measure urged 鈥渢he peaceful restoration of democracy鈥� in Venezuela, expressed 鈥渄eep concern鈥� at 鈥渢he violence and excessive use of force by Venezuelan security forces against unarmed, peaceful protesters鈥� and 鈥渞ecent attempts to block the delivery of humanitarian aid.鈥� It called for unhindered humanitarian access.
Russia鈥檚 resolution got four votes in favor, from Russia, China, South Africa, and Equatorial Guinea. Seven nations voted against, and four abstained. If it had received nine 鈥測es鈥� votes, Abrams made clear the Trump administration would have vetoed it.
The defeated Russian resolution called for peaceful settlement of disputes and a political solution in Venezuela, and reaffirmed the primary role of the government in seeking and consenting to international aid.
Indonesian Ambassador Dian Triansyah Djani, who abstained on both resolutions, expressed regret that the Security Council could not achieve unity. He said both resolutions were incomplete, not balanced or comprehensive enough, and became 鈥渙verly politicized.鈥�
鈥淭his is a sad day for the international community, particularly for the people of Venezuela,鈥� he said. 鈥淭his is undoubtedly a collective failure 鈥� a failure of us 15 that are seated at this table, because we all came here today knowing that we would not reach the needed consensus for the adoption of a resolution.鈥�
U.S. President Donald Trump has said all options are on the table in dealing with Venezuela鈥檚 crisis, though Abrams this week stressed the word 鈥減eaceful.鈥� Washington鈥檚 proposed resolution was changed from its initial text to include that word several times, including calling 鈥渇or the start of a peaceful political process leading to free, fair and credible presidential elections.鈥�
French Ambassador Francois Delattre told reporters: 鈥淭he American draft does not represent a legal basis for a use of force, nor an attempt to undermine the sovereignty of Venezuela. Rather, it reflects the tragic reality of this country today.鈥�
The vote on the rival resolutions followed Saturday鈥檚 highly publicized attempt by Guaido, who has been recognized as Venezuela鈥檚 interim president by the U.S. and more than 50 other countries, to deliver humanitarian aid across the country鈥檚 borders with Colombia and Brazil.
During Tuesday鈥檚 council debate, Abrams and Venezuelan Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza disagreed sharply over who was responsible for violence that flared when Venezuelan troops blocked the shipments.
Venezuelan Ambassador Samuel Moncada told the council on Thursday: 鈥淭here is no type of violence in Venezuela. If there are threats to peace, those threats come from abroad.鈥� /kga