Live: US Ambassador. UU. For Venezuela talk to EL TEMPS – Venezuela – International

This week, speaking of the Venezuelan migration and humanitarian crisis, the Colombian president, Ivan Duc, Warned that up to 10 million Venezuelans could leave their country, if the departure of Nicolás Maduro from power does not materialize; and asked the United States “Keep your eyes peeled” about this situation.

(Read also: Chavismo returns to Parliament, and opposition from the Guaidó challenges it)

The Ambassador for the United States Foreign Office for Venezuela, James Story, sees it clearly: “The problem of Venezuela is not just a problem of Venezuela and Venezuelans, we are talking about almost 6 million Venezuelans who are outside Venezuela, which have an economic, social, political impact in other countries “.

In conversation with this newspaper, he acknowledged the work that the Duke government and the people of Colombia have done when receiving almost 2 million Venezuelans; and spoke of working together with other countries to put pressure on the Venezuelan regime, to open up space for dialogue “True” that contemplates a single thing: elections and conditions for elections.

What is behind the recent wave of aggression by the Nicolás Maduro regime against civil society organizations and local media?

Obviously this regime does not want information to reach the people of Venezuela. (…) Censorship is almost total in the country. But not just censorship and attacks on journalists. This regime has attacked national institutions, first, with its express TSJ, the National Assembly (elected in 2015) attacking them with the Constituent Assembly, then attacked economic life in many ways: mismanagement, corruption and also the Anti-lock law. Later they attacked the oenagés that were giving him to the town of Venezuela medicines and food and they are ending their complete, total censorship in the latest attacks on the media.

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We are always looking for ways to help get the information to the people of Venezuela, because what we want is for them to have information and be able to make their own decisions.

EE. UU. Military exercises are advancing in Guyana amid a new chapter of tension in the Esequibo dispute. What are these operations about and why do they support the ICJ decision?

The problems between Guyana and Venezuela should be resolved peacefully, but we also believe that where (these) these problems should be solved is (in) the International Court of Justice. We don’t have to agree with everyone, because I know there are many who want to solve problems in a bilateral way.

As for the anti-narcotics operations we are doing, we have the right to work with our allies, we worked a lot with Colombia, with Central American countries, with Mexico and also in the Caribbean and South America. And Guyana is a country that is working with us when performing anti-narcotics operations then, I know that (Vladimir) Godfather Lopez and others want to make news about these operations, but we already have months operating throughout the Caribbean Sea.

We recently saw a turnaround on the opposition route, which now prioritizes holding elections to get out of Nicolás Maduro. Is this the path the United States supports?

We continue to support a peaceful, constitutional, political process in the country (…) What Venezuelans want, need, what they are going to have are free, fair and verifiable elections, so that every Venezuelan has the opportunity to raise their voice and express themselves. (…) (A) the international community will work together and we will support democratic and freedom forces within the country, such as the National Assembly (elected in 2015), like the same president (in charge) Guaidó, Like the actors: nurses, students and all, so that they can have the opportunity to have free, fair and verifiable choices.

(Read here: Massacre in Caracas of 23 people at the hands of the PNB)

We should all work together: the European Union, Colombia, Brazil, Lima Group, Treaty of Rio, to convince Nicolás Maduro and those in his group that they should stop having free, fair and verifiable elections in the country. (…) The goal is the same, the tactics may change a little, but the freedom of the people of Venezuela, this will always be our north, our main goal.

The European Union, however, has withdrawn its recognition of Guaidó as interim president, does this not affect this coordination?

The EU has not withdrawn its support for interim President Juan Guaidó. Each state in the EU makes its own decision on whether or not to recognize. The EU has not withdrawn its support for interim President Juan Guaidó. The EU, in itself, had never done (this recognition), then there is no change of position.

Both now, with President (Donald) Trump, and also in the future, with President (Joe) Biden, we will continue to work in coordination with the countries of the world to alleviate the suffering of the people of Venezuela and reach this moment of free, fair and verifiable elections.

The problem of Venezuela is central, not only for Venezuelans, but also for the region and the US. UU. It will be a very important issue in the new administration as well as in this administration.

(In other news: What are the consequences of the EU no longer recognizing Guaidó?)

Would the Biden administration sponsor a negotiation with Maduro, how to get Senator Marco Rubio out?

We have always said that a negotiated exit would be best, A negotiated exit that contemplates free, fair and verifiable elections, that foresees opportunities for all the Venezuelans. (…) It is also necessary to work with the EU countries, the Lima Group and others to exert more pressure on the regime to open up space for negotiation, dialogue, conversations but that they are true, that contemplate only one thing: elections and conditions for elections (…) This is the central issue, and it’s not about opening up some space for the press, letting some people out of prison.. That’s not it. Everything must be done, it is a set of all the minimum conditions for elections and put on the election calendar. This would be a negotiation that really counts.

ANDREÍNA ITRIAGO
TIME CORRESPONDENT
CARACAS

Also read:

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– EE. UU. He reiterates his support for Guaidó and ignores the new Parliament