Elliott Abrams and Infobae: "We do not negotiate Maduro's departure with the scheme because we think they are not legitimate"

In an exclusive interview with Infobae In the State Department, in Washington, Elliott Abrams, the United States Government's special envoy for Venezuela, a Republican hawk who has gone through several stages of American diplomacy over the past four decades, said his country it does not plan to apply any sanctions or retaliation of any kind whatsoever against the countries of the region that "up to now" support the Nicolás Maduro regime.

The strategy, said the head of Donald Trump, is diplomatic. "We talk to them and hope they change their policy," he said. The siege around the Chavez regime must be further reduced and for this he called the countries of the region to "increase the pressure"About Maduro, United States," he saidhe does not think in any other way"That the diplomatic, economic and financial sanctions expel Maduro from power."Of course, all options are on the table because they are alwayshe reasoned.

Abrams also admitted that there was a strong concern in the United States and in the community of countries that support Juan Guaidó's "democratic government" for the safety of the president in charge on his return to Venezuela. "There is a lot of concern because the people of the regime said that they would imprison him"But he said that if the Chavez government stops it, it will trigger"a very big reaction, especially in Venezuela, but also in the international community"

The interview with Infobae It was in English and Spanish. "I can do the Argentinian accent," Abrams joked before beginning the dialogue. He is an old acquaintance of the region. His controversial initiative of the Ronald Reagan administration is now used by the sectors that support Maduro to discredit his diplomatic efforts.

He also said that US officials, including himself, were discussing with Russia "on many issues and on this issue as well". He did not reveal the content of these talks, but he said neither Russia nor China should support Maduro.

In another part of the interview, Abrams said that "sooner or later", dictatorships fall."They seem strong, they seem stable, and then the day comes when they are no longer. I hope that this day will be soon and that I think it is likely that it will be soon, but we are not looking at the calendar but we are looking at the Venezuelans, "he said. he declares. Infobae.

He also rejected the idea that support for Guaidó and the international strategy that supports his installation in power to convene new elections in Venezuela are losing momentum. "If we compare the situation to what it was a month or two ago, there is great progress. The opposition has been unified in the National Assembly, President Juan Guaidó has been recognized by millions of Venezuelans, which is the most important, and by 54 countries of the world, "he said.

– What should happen to Maduro once he's no longer in power?
– This is a question that Venezuelans must answer. They will have to decide what to do with the people of the old regime. Whenever there has been a new democratization, in the world and also in Latin America, different agreements have been reached over the last decades on what should happen with the citizens of the regime, and it is the Venezuelans who will decide their destiny.

– Is there any direct negotiation with Maduro's environment or with Maduro himself to get him out of power and offer him a way out?

– No, we are talking to the de facto regime because we have American prisoners, we have 30, 40,000 US citizens in Venezuela and an embbady, ​​that's why we have to talk about their safety, it's always like it. But We do not trade with them because we think that they are not legitimate.