At the UN, the race for Latin America’s open seat on the Security Council continues today. On Tuesday, the General Assembly failed to choose between Venezuela and Guatemala for a second straight day. The Venezuelan government says the Bush administration has been pressuring vulnerable countries into voting for Guatemala. On Tuesday, UN Ambassador John Bolton denied the charge.

UN Ambassador John Bolton: “That’s all that we’ve ever asked people to do. We have given the reasons why with think Venezuela’s candidacy is problematic, and why Guatemala’s candidacy has a lot of merit to it, and countries are making up their own minds.”

Meanwhile, Venezuelan UN Ambassador Francisco Arias Cardenas called on member states to stand up to the US.

Venezuelan UN Ambassador Francisco Arias Cardenas:”We want this to change for the good, so we understand each other on equal terms, so that the will of the strong is not imposed on the weak. We have to profoundly thank this nucleus of countries that maintains itself and does not fall under this pressure. More people are in agreement that everything be resolved [democratically].”