Venezuela: Lima group excludes resort to military intervention

In its final declaration, after a meeting in Bogota, the bloc reiterated "its conviction that the transition to democracy must be conducted by the Venezuelans themselves in a peaceful manner and within the framework of the Constitution and international law, supported by political and diplomatic means without the use of force ".

According to Peruvian Deputy Foreign Minister Hugo de Zela, what they want is "the return of democracy to Venezuela through diplomatic measures, without resorting to force".

"It has been demonstrated with the events of Saturday" "that the use of force only produces dead and wounded, which cause enormous damage to the Venezuelan family and that is precisely what we want to avoid."

Previously, Brazil, a member of the bloc, had already excluded the armed resource. "For us, the military option has never been an option," said Vice President Hamilton Mourao.

"We will maintain the line of non-intervention, believing in international diplomatic and economic pressure to seek a peaceful solution.There are no adventures.We condemn the mature regime of Nicolás and are outraged by the violence against the Venezuelan population, "he wrote on social networks.

On the eve, Guaidó had asked his overseas allies to keep "all the cards on the table," US Vice President Mike Pence said yesterday at the Bogota meeting.

At the end of the declaration, Colombian Foreign Minister Carlos Holmes Trujillo denounced "serious and credible threats" against the leader of the opposition, Juan Guaidó, and criticized the "usurper" government "Maduro what could happen to him. "Any violent action against Guaidó, his wife or relatives would force the Lima group to act collectively, using all the legal and political mechanisms," Holmes said at the end of a meeting in Bogotá. Guadió said that he would return to Venezuela in a few days.

The meeting yesterday brought together 10 of the 14 members of the group: Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Guatemala, Honduras, Panama, Paraguay and Peru, who decided to integrate Guaidó, present at the meeting . Pence, for his part, reiterated the support of President Donald Trump to the Venezuelan opposition leader.

USA during that time sanctioned four governors of Venezuelan states. "The Treasury Department's measures target four governors aligned with former President Maduro, for blocking much-needed humanitarian aid and prolonging the suffering of Venezuelans," said Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, quoted by in a statement.

"Maduro's actions will not go unpunished," White House National Security advisor John Bolton said on Twitter, highlighting Guaidó's "decisive leadership."

The sanctioned governors are Omar José Prieto Fernández, from the oil state Zulia, on the border with Colombia; and Jorge Luis García Carneiro, of the state of Vargas, adjacent to Caracas, where is the main airport of the country.

Rafael Lacava, from the state of Carabobo, where is Puerto Cabello, Venezuela's largest port; and Ramón Carrizalez, from Apure State, bordering Colombia and reported by the strong activity of gangs of drug traffickers.

"The United States will not sit idly by while the people of Venezuela are denied basic needs and suffer needlessly, and these actions have consequences," the State Department said in a statement.

Politically divided, Venezuela, declared in partial default in 2017 by several rating agencies, is plunged into an unprecedented economic crisis, marked by hyperinflation and a serious shortage of commodities.

Guaidó claims that 300,000 people "would be sentenced to death" if the aid does not enter, but Maduro denies the existence of a "humanitarian emergency", claiming that it was an excuse for an American invasion.

Treasury measures imply the freezing of all potential badets of sanctioned persons and their entities in the United States, and prohibit US individuals and companies from dealing with them. Since 2015, EE, UU. He has punished dozens of Venezuelan officials and former officials, including Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores, as well as Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino, accusing them of human rights violations, acts aimed at undermine democracy, corruption and drug trafficking.

AFP, ANSA and Reuters agencies,

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