Mike Pompeo told Asunción that he considered Paraguay "as a partner" to restore democracy in Venezuela

The Secretary of State of the United States, Mike Pompeo, insured this Saturday in Asunción that he sees Paraguay "as a partner"to restore democracy in Venezuela, after meeting with the president Mario Abdo Benítez and the Chancellor Luis Alberto Castiglioni.

"We see an opportunity to badociate with real democracies, we share our values, our goals and our aspirations. We see Paraguay as a partner"Pompeo told local media, who arrived in Asunción from Chile last night during a tour of South America to talk about the situation in Venezuela.

In his references to Venezuela, Pompeo said that the return of democracy in the country requires a "team work"and referred to the work of the Lima group in the"defense of democracy"

"It is not only the vision of the United States or Paraguay, of other countries of the world to defend and recognize together the President of the Constituent Assembly, Juan Guaidó, like the real (President of Venezuela), "he added after meeting Abdo Benítez at the Government Palace.

Pompeo also condemned Nicolás Maduro's regime and insisted that the United States remain "the defense of democracy in this country (Venezuela) and in these peoples"

This is the first visit of a US Secretary of State since 1965.when Dean Rusk, Secretary of State under Lyndon Johnson's presidency, visited the country, ruled at the time by dictator Alfredo Stroessner (1954-1989).

The secretary of state joked about this and badured that It will not be long before someone of the same rank comes back to the country South American, the friendship that unites them is "too important".

Pompeo will then leave for Peru, where he will also meet on Saturday the President of Peru, Martín Vizcarraand the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Peru, Néstor Popolizio.

His tour of the region will end Sunday at Colombian locality of CúcutaOn the border with Venezuela, badess border problems and support for Venezuelan refugees.

This trip to the region takes place a few hours before the next meeting of the Lima Group, scheduled for April 16, which will again focus on Venezuela.

(With information from EFE)