Venezuela is denying it’s given up its bid to join the UN Security Council and asked Bolivia to run in its place. The denial came after Bolivian President Evo Morales made this announcement on Tuesday.

Bolivian President Evo Morales: “Comandante Chavez told me that as they have not been able to… attain the two-thirds of the Security Council, our friend Hugo Chavez said, to gain consensus, he would give the candidacy to Bolivia. We are candidates to the Security Council. Let’s hope we are able to achieve consensus. Our Ambassador will be mobilizing at the United Nations.”

The Venezuelan Foreign Ministry says it’s raised the possibility of Bolivia’s candidacy but has not made a final decision. Guatemala currently leads Venezuela but has not received the required two-thirds majority of votes at the General Assembly.