Monday, October 30, 2017

Declaration of the Second Meeting of the Lima Group on the Situation in Venezuela

Permanent Mission of Canada to the Organization of American States

("Unofficial translation")

The foreign ministers of Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay and Peru met in New York City on September 20, 2017,[1] following up on the Declaration adopted in Lima [the Lima Declaration], to:

1.    Reaffirm the content and validity of the Lima Declaration and its commitment to redoubling efforts to achieve a peaceful and negotiated solution to the crisis in Venezuela.

2.    Regret that the rupture of the democratic order continues in Venezuela, that its government violates constitutional norms, the will of the people and inter-American values; represses political dissent; holds political prisoners; and violates the human rights and fundamental freedoms of the people.

3.    Condemn repression and political persecution in Venezuela, including the decision of the National Constituent Assembly to prosecute opposition leaders for “treason against the homeland.”

4.    Reiterate their full support and solidarity with the democratically elected National Assembly, as well as their commitment to enforce non-recognition of the acts emanating from the National Constituent Assembly and to continue to apply the Inter-American Democratic Charter to Venezuela.

5.    Acknowledge the contribution and agree with the concerns of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, as expressed in the report “Human rights violations and abuses in the context of protests in the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela from 1 April to 31 July 2017.”

6.    Reiterate their willingness to help create, in coordination with international organizations and other countries, a channel of assistance to address the humanitarian crisis that afflicts the country.

7.    Recognize the initiative of the Dominican Republic to bring together the Venezuelan government and opposition, as well as the decision of both parties to invite certain countries to accompany this process. They reiterate that to achieve positive results, these approaches must be developed in good faith and with clear rules, objectives and deadlines, as well as guarantees of compliance, for which international accompaniment of this effort is essential.

8.    Reaffirm their commitment as foreign ministers to keep a close watch on the situation in Venezuela until the full restoration of democratic order in that country; and to that end, they will meet in October in Canada.

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