File Photo: Venezuelan Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza speaks to journalists during a press conference at the UN headquarters in New York, on Feb. 12, 2019. (Xinhua/Li Muzi)

UNITED NATIONS, Feb. 14 (Xinhua) -- Venezuela is trying to gather support at the United Nations amid a political crisis at home.

Venezuelan Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza, flanked by representatives from 16 other countries, read a statement on Thursday to reporters at the UN Headquarters in New York.

"Today, we are announcing that an important group of members of the United Nations states, concerned over the need to maintain respect for the principles of the founding charter (of the United Nations) that governs the behavior of the international community, have decided to organize ourselves to coordinate actions to defend the charter and the right of all the member states," said the statement.

"We are an important group of countries who are sure that the majority of the members of this organization share the same interest, and as such, we are working to defend the following principles," it said.

The statement called for respect for the principle of equal rights and self-determination of the peoples, respect for the sovereign equality of UN members, non-intervention in the domestic affairs of the states.

It also called on states to settle international disputes through peaceful means, to refrain from the threat of use of force against any state, and to respect the territorial integrity and political independence of all states.

"We believe these principles are being violated, putting at risk the right to peace and security of our peoples, the right to development, and full enjoyment of human rights," said the statement. "We all have the right to live without the threat of use of force, and without the application of illegal, coercive, unilateral measures."

"In the next few days, we will begin a series of actions to raise awareness around the dangers that our peoples currently face, particularly the case of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. We call upon all the member states of the United Nations to join us in defending international law as the only guarantor for humanity's peaceful coexistence."

Venezuela has been in political tension since Jan. 23 when National Assembly President Juan Guaido declared himself interim president and was recognized by the United States and some other countries. Arreaza said Thursday that Nicolas Maduro remains the only legitimate president of Venezuela.