The European Union, ten EU countries, Latin American and Caribbean countries and the United States are calling for the will of the 12 million Venezuelans who voted in the July presidential elections to be “respected” in a Joint Statement adopted on Thursday 26 September, as the Venezuelan authorities continue to ignore calls from the opposition to the Maduro regime and international observers for the electoral process to be transparent (see EUROPE 13471/4).
The signatory jurisdictions state that they are “gravely concerned” about the repression and human rights violations that followed the presidential election that enabled Nicolás Maduro to retain power. They are calling for the return of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to Caracas.
“Now is the time for Venezuelan political leaders to begin constructive and inclusive discussions on a transition with guarantees for both sides to resolve the country’s political impasse and restore democratic institutions” in Venezuela, say the signatories of the statement.
In addition, Spain wants the European Council to discuss the Venezuelan crisis at the summit on 17 and 18 October.
To see the Joint Statement: https://aeur.eu/f/dmh (Original version in French by Mathieu Bion with Camille-Cerise Gessant)