Roadmap for an Electoral Process | Group I …

The International Contact Group on Venezuela concluded yesterday its first meeting in Montevideo, during which it agreed on its main objectives: to establish the necessary guarantees for an electoral process and to allow the distribution of humanitarian aid. Bolivia has not been authorized to sign the declaration of this first meeting, considering that the proposed points are aimed at interfering in the internal affairs of the Caribbean country.

After the meeting, Uruguay's Minister of Foreign Affairs Rodolfo Nin Novoa said that the Governor in Council had explained how to work together to peacefully break out of the crisis in Venezuela and establish the necessary guarantees for an electoral process. "The Venezuelan problem can be settled to the extent that we start talking about elections," Nin Novoa said at a press conference. The Foreign Minister, however, contradicted the proposal made yesterday with Mexico and the countries of the Caribbean Community – known as the Montevideo mechanism – which did not include a call for elections in Venezuela. "If we demand elections at this time, we impose conditions that hinder the dialogue.They are the ones (government and opposition) who must accept.We are going to the dialogue without conditions," said Wednesday the head of foreign relations of l & # 39; Uruguay.

President Tabaré Vazquez was the promoter (jointly with the European Union) and the host of the meeting attended by the Foreign Ministers of Mexico, Bolivia, Costa Rica and Ecuador, as well as their counterparts from Spain, Sweden, Italy and the European Community. Representatives from Germany, France, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and Portugal also participated. On the contrary, neither the representatives of the Venezuelan government nor those of the opposition were part of the meeting.

At this press conference, in which Nin Novoa was accompanied by the head of foreign affairs of the European Union (EU), Federica Mogherini, it was clarified that the Governor in Council and the Montevideo Mechanism do not have the right to do so. were not identical, which is why Mexico -which was present at the meeting but was not part of the Governor-in-Council did not sign the document. Mexican Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard said his country was not part of the GIC because he could not, under a constitutional mandate, support outside interference in others country. The Mexican, however, said he advocated communication between the parties and a peaceful and democratic solution to the conflict.

In this regard, Bolivia also spoke, which, in a statement issued after the meeting, indicated that it did not subscribe to the final declaration because it did not feel represented by all of its content, even though she said she would continue to collaborate in whatever she could do to promote Venezuela's stability. However, he indicated that he was adhering to the Montevideo Mechanism. In addition to calling for dialogue between the parties to the conflict, the Bolivian government has rejected any threat of military intervention in the Caribbean country. "Finally, Bolivia urges countries that have offered humanitarian aid and at the same time imposed economic financial sanctions on Venezuela to encourage them to contribute to the provision of food and other supplies necessary for the population," he concluded. .

The Governor in Council's statement also indicated that the humanitarian crisis was recognized at the meeting, which they believe continues to deepen day by day. "The Group has expressed its commitment to deploy more badistance in the safe areas and coordinate its implementation in collaboration with the Special Representative of the United Nations Refugee Agency, Mr. Eduardo Stein", read in the release. The Governor in Council's statement also stated that, in order to achieve its objectives, it would send a technical mission to Venezuela.

Mogherini, at the press conference with Nin Novoa, said that humanitarian aid to Venezuela should be channeled impartially and should not be politicized. "We talked about the need to channel aid impartially and independently so that aid is never politicized," said the diplomat. For his part, the Uruguayan chancellor said that the arrival of this aid to Venezuela was imperative.

The humanitarian aid to Venezuela was requested by the speaker of parliament, the self-proclaimed interim president, Juan Guaidó, despite the refusal of the government of Nicolás Maduro, which guarantees the possibility of a foreign invasion. Although Venezuela 's support for Venezuela is not yet clear, the opposition parliament has already reported collection centers in the border town of Cucuta, Colombia.