ST GEORGE’S, Grenada (CMC) — Grenada’s Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell says the weekend events in Venezuela have not advanced the causes of any parties nor have it narrowed differences, and instead “is pushing the region into more instability”.

“We again reiterate our position that diplomacy, dialogue, negotiation, and compromise are the only means of achieving any sustainable, long-term resolution to differences,” Mitchell said on the Grenada Broadcasting Networks (GBN) “Beyond the Headlines” programme on Monday night.

Mitchell, an attorney, told television viewers that all parties should respect international norms, the rules of international engagement and the territorial integrity and sovereignty of all countries in the Western Hemisphere and the Americas.

“That is the only way we will make progress…whenever differences arise between certain countries or amongst countries,” he said, side-stepping Washington’s announcement that it intends to “run” Venezuela following the removal of President Maduro.

“I don’t think I have a response to that. The only way a country can run another country, let me put it this way. A country runs its own country, and the only way you can run another country is if that territory belongs to that country or is a colony of that country,” Mitchell said, adding, “So I really think the question should be directed at President (Donald) Trump and his team as to what they mean by that.”

Mitchell told Grenadians that his administration is reviewing a memorandum of understanding (MOU) proposed by Washington regarding the acceptance of third-country nationals as the United States seeks to shift asylum processing away from the North American country.

He said that no agreement has been reached, acknowledging also that while the US has approached several Caribbean countries with this proposal, Grenada has not committed to the arrangement.

“For some time now, the US Government has approached Caribbean countries, including Grenada, to enter into a memorandum of understanding about third-country nationals,” Mitchell said.

“We’ve been in discussions with the United States on this. Discussions along with texts of the MOU have been shared,” Mitchell said, explaining that the proposal would involve Grenada potentially hosting individuals on a case-by-case basis when the US is unable to return deportees to their countries of origin.

However, he stressed that technical officers and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs have been engaged in discussions with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the US Embassy in Washington, and “to date we have not agreed to accept”.

Mitchell declined to disclose details of Grenada’s counter-proposal, citing national security concerns.

Last weekend, the United States military invaded Venezuela and seized President Nicolas Maduro on allegations of being involved in the illegal drug trade.

Maduro and his wife appeared in a Federal Court in New York on Monday, where they both pleaded not guilty to the charges. The matter has been adjourned until March 17 this year.

The 25-page indictment accuses Maduro and others of working with drug cartels to facilitate the shipment of thousands of tons of cocaine into the US. They could face life in prison if convicted.