Italy is "extremely concerned" by the deepening crisis in Venezuela, premier Giuseppe Conte's office said Friday in a statement that urged new presidential polls "soonest" and a diplomatic solution to the stand-off between opposition leader Juan Guaido and leftist president Nicolas Maduro.
"Italy, in line with the declaration adopted by the (European Union) Foreign Policy High Representative on behalf of the 28 member states on 26 January, reiterates that it is extremely concerned by the latest developments in Venezuela," said the statement.
"Italy has never recognised the presidential polls held in May 2018 and repeats that fresh presidential elections must be called soonest."
Italy, which is a member of a new EU-led contact group on Venezuela, "backs every diplomatic initiative that favours a swift, transparent, peaceful land democratic path and averts stalemate in the country," the statement said.
"This is in the interests of the whole Venezuelan people and the many Italian communities living there," the statement added.
"Italy hopes that every collective effort is made in order not to fuel the divisions within in the country and the international community," the statement concluded.
Global jostling intensified this week between countries that want to keep Maduro in power and those trying to force him to resign after an outcry over his re-election in last May's contested polls and a protracted economic crisis that has driven three million people from the country.
Guaido, the elected leader of the opposition-held National Assembly, declared himself interim president on 23 January after leftist president Nikolas Maduro was sworn in for a second term earlier in January.
Venezuela's May 2018 presidential elections were marred by an opposition boycott and allegations of vote-rigging which triggered large protests in Venezuela.
