USA: "We hope Russia will stop supporting Maduro"

Jon Piechowski has learned Spanish in the south of Spain and has perfected it in Latin America. He speaks fluently. Choose the words with the care and precision of the career diplomat. His message is clear and focuses on two central actors in the Venezuelan crisis: Vladimir Putin's Russia and the high military command that still holds Nicolás Maduro in power.

For Moscow, the message is that the United States expects from them "concrete actions, stop supporting Maduro". And for the Chavez military leaders, who "must support the Constitution and take measures in favor of democracy". He also pointed out that the US government had offered yesterday, with the lifting of sanctions against General Christopher Figuera, former director of the Sewin feared (the Bolivarian intelligence service), sufficient guarantees of commitments made. "It's an example of how we met," he said.

Piechowski has been Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs since last December. He has just given two interviews of North American television channels in Spanish at regional level and ends with an exclusive dialogue with Infobae in the state department, in the US capital.

–The United States has presented Russia as an obstacle to the advancement of democracy in Venezuela: is it possible that this obstacle is lifted by diplomacy?

-We hope. We have stated publicly and through our diplomatic meetings that we want to see concrete actions by Russia, which would stop supporting Maduro. We must be optimistic in this work and hopefully. But Russia and Cuba have supported Maduro and their interference prevents the Venezuelan people from realizing their dream of establishing democracy in their country.

–Has Operation Freedom failed or is it being pursued by other means?

– I believe that the efforts of Acting President (Juan) Guaidó and all the democratic actors of Venezuela and the Venezuelan people are continuing and that, as long as the transition to democracy has not taken place, they will continue their efforts. efforts. The United States will be at your side, accompanying the Venezuelan people with our support, our unfailing solidarity, until they enjoy the freedom and prosperity of their country.

–Contacts were discussed with senior military commanders who were subsequently interrupted. Have these contacts been renewed? Is there an open dialogue with the military sectors in Venezuela?

-I will not talk about dialogues or diplomatic conversations. I think what we have said is that the military, the leaders, the environmental actors of Nicolás Maduro must support the Venezuelan Constitution and take concrete measures in favor of democracy.

–In this sense, it was pointed out that one of the reasons why many military leaders have not abandoned Maduro is that they do not believe in the promise of an amnesty. Do they make this same diagnosis?

-I will not speculate on the motives of different officers. I think we can talk about our actions and the commitment we have made to lift the sanctions against those who take measures in favor of democracy. Yesterday we lifted the sanctions against Figuera in Venezuela, and that's part of our commitment.

–Is the case of Figuera used to give guarantees to other military leaders?

"It's an example of how we fulfill our commitment, yes.

–Guaidó raised the possibility that the National Assembly demands the intervention of the United States. Is this a signal waiting?

-Well, President (Donald) Trump said that all options are on the table and that we are developing all these options. I think it is important to emphasize that we are very active in the diplomatic field, supporting the Lima Group, the democratic actors in Venezuela and the whole Venezuelan people so that it can to new live in freedom.

–There appears to be a consensus in the region against military intervention. Do you think that if Guaidó, through the National Assembly, formally requested it, could this consensus be changed?

-Well, I will not speculate. I want to say that the consensus that exists in the region is very important and I think that the leadership of many countries, Brazil, Colombia and Argentina, also countries that have also hosted many Venezuelans, is exemplary. . We want to maintain this consensus because it shows that the weight of regional opinion is extremely favorable to democracy in Venezuela and Nicolás Maduro and his gang of criminals.

–Cuba strongly supports Maduro and elections are held in several Latin American countries. Mexico has already taken a political turn and there are elections in Argentina, among others. Is the United States concerned about the possibility that in the event of a change in orientation in some of the key countries in the region, Maduro will be able to count on more support in the event of ## 147 ## 39, an extension of his regime?

-I want to leave Cuba separately, because it is well known in the world that the Cuban dictatorship, which represses its people for 60 years, has every interest in keeping Nicolás Maduro at the Miraflores Palace. I believe that the value of democracy in the Western Hemisphere is well established and that there is a consensus among all governments in the hemisphere that democracy is a right of all peoples and peoples. I do not worry about a change of political party because we share these values. about democracy

–Do not you think that there could be a new wave of populist governments in Latin America?

-I do not know, I believe that each country has a unique moment, with the conditions of this country, I do not know what is the dynamics in each country of the region because our region is very diverse and therefore each election for positions different He has his own dynamic.