CELAC urges U.S. to revoke anti-Venezuela decree

The Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) Thursday unanimously rejected a U.S. presidential decree declaring Venezuela a national security threat, and called on Washington to revoke it.

The unanimous decision is "a clear rejection of the decree and proposes the decree be revoked," Ecuadorian Foreign Minister Ricardo Patino, whose country currently holds CELAC's rotating presidency, told reporters.

He said the 33-member regional bloc's position on the dispute and call for dialogue are in line with those of the international community.

It is a position "really becoming global," he added, noting that the nonaligned Group of 77 Plus China also called on the U.S. late Wednesday to revoke the decree and ratified its support for Venezuela.

Asked whether the issue is on the agenda of a key hemispheric summit next month in Panama, Patino said it would be up to the participating heads of state to decide.

Earlier this month, U.S. President Barack Obama signed a decree stating the situation in Venezuela "constitutes an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States."

The strong-worded message, which many interpreted as paving the way for a military strike, has been widely condemned by Venezuela's Latin American allies and regional blocs.

CELAC comprises every country in the Americas except the United States and Canada. Endi