MEXICO CITY/WASHINGTON: A group of 14 nations urged Venezuela to hold elections and release “political prisoners,” in a statement that kept open the option of seeking to suspend the South American country from the Organization of American States.
The statement, which Mexico’s Foreign Minister Luis Videgaray said was aimed at encouraging Venezuela to “re-establish democracy,” called for dialogue and negotiation to resolve a crisis in the country, which is suffering severe food and fuel shortages.
Suspending Venezuela from the OAS was a last resort, the nations said, and something that should be avoided unless other diplomatic efforts have been exhausted.
“We reiterate that inclusive and effective dialogue is the right path to achieve lasting solutions to the challenges faced by the Venezuelan people,” the statement said.
Venezuela has jailed around 100 government opponents it accuses of inciting violence and planning the overthrow of President Nicolas Maduro. Opposition activists and human rights groups say they are prisoners of conscience.
In October, Venezuela’s election board suspended the opposition drive for a recall referendum against Maduro despite the country’s crushing economic crisis, the government’s unpopularity and public opinion in favour of a plebiscite.
Venezuela has also delayed until 2017 elections due in December for state governorships.
The declaration by the 14 nations called for the separation of powers, the rule of law and the establishment of an electoral calendar for postponed elections.
The group that signed the declaration, which includes regional powerhouses the United States, Mexico, Canada and Brazil, also called on Venezuela to recognise the legitimacy of the country’s national assembly, which has been defanged by Maduro’s government since the opposition won a majority in 2015.
Delcy Rodriguez, Venezuela’s foreign minister, called Videgaray “servile” and a “traitor” for siding with Washington in a new push to isolate her country, which has been at loggerheads with the United States since the left-wing government of the late President Hugo Chavez.
“Foreign Minister @LVidegaray attacks Venezuela to please his imperial owners,” Rodriguez said on Twitter. “He is building walls with Latin America instead of defending the sovereign rights and interests of its people.” — Reuters
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