UPDATE- 'Turkey will continue to support Venezuela'

UPDATES WITH MORE REMARKS OF TURKISH FM, VENEZUELAN COUNTERPART</p> <p>By Zehra Nur Duz </p> <p>ANKARA (AA) – Turkey’s foreign minister on Monday reiterated Turkish support for the country of Venezuela and its elected leadership. </p> <p>“Turkey will continue to support Venezuela, as problems there could affect all of Latin America and even the Caribbean,” Mevlut Cavusoglu told a joint news conference alongside his Venezuelan counterpart Jorge Arreaza in Ankara, Turkey's capital.</p> <p>“Turkey recognizes Maduro regime as the legitimate government of Venezuela under the principle of non-interference in states' internal affairs and respect for the people's will,” Cavusoglu said. </p> <p>Arreaza, for his part, said that Turkey showed Venezuela an exemplary friendship during a difficult time his country experienced.</p> <p>“It is necessary to say that Turkey and Venezuela will work incessantly to find alternative ways to boost trade relations and carry the cooperation one step further,” Arreaza added.</p> <p>Venezuela has been rocked by protests since Jan. 10, when Nicolas Maduro was sworn in for a second term following a vote boycotted by the opposition.</p> <p>Tensions flared when opposition leader Juan Guaido declared himself acting president on Jan. 23 — a move supported by the U.S. and many European and Latin American countries.</p> <p>On the other hand, Turkey, Russia, China, Iran, Bolivia and Mexico have put their weight behind Maduro.