The message from the US ambassador to Colombia about Venezuela

With security qualifying each of his words, the United States ambassador to ColombiaFrancisco Palmieri, assured that the January 10 will be a milestone for Venezuelaas it marks an important date for the country.

“It will be a democratic milestone because the Venezuelan Constitution requires that the winner of the July 28 election assume the presidency, and the minutes have yet to be published. It is obvious to everyone who won, and the work of the opposition with the minutes demonstrated it“, expressed Palmieri in an interview with The Carabobeño.

But for that to happen, the diplomat believes that a dialogue that promotes a way out of the crisis that allows January 10 to arrive with new possibilities.

“I am not going to define the solution because that has to come among Venezuelans,” he said.

International collective action for Venezuela

During the conversation with the ambassador, he reiterated on several occasions that it is time for international collective action to achieve progress towards democracy in Venezuela.

He emphasized that there are many measures that international community can take. “First we have to emphasize that the result of the July 28 election has to be respected, it is the will of the Venezuelan people that we have to support, and a very important step is to pressure Nicolás Mauro to accept that result and publish the minutes” .

Palmieri insisted that the only way to resolve the crisis is through a dialogue with the democratic opposition united and with the people, but that is not possible as long as repression continues.

He also requested the release of political prisoners and that the intimidation against actors from all sectors, such as civil society, unions and all groups who just want the opportunity to build a peaceful solution, be put to an end.

“One thing that we must take into account are the regions outside Caracas, because we know that there is a lot of frustration with the situation, that Venezuelans want a way out of the economic, humanitarian, and migratory crisis; and the July 28 election “He opened a path, Venezuelans are demanding action.”

Ungovernable situation

The international analyzes handled by the United States ambassador in Colombia indicate that the Venezuelan economy is not going to recover. government structuresince it needs a better democratic system that allows creating stability for the required investment.

Venezuela’s governance is also complicated by the humanitarian crisis that continues and will worsen with new laws that restrict the operation of NGOs.

“Instead of these laws, the field should be opened for civil society to help in solving the humanitarian crisis. This government has not been able to demonstrate the ability to meet the needs of Venezuelans who know that when the government speaks it is only excuses, but Venezuelans know who is to blame for the inability.”

The diplomat described the government as wrong by continuing with the hypothesis that the sanctions They are responsible for the crisis in Venezuela. “What is happening is diverting the current crisis, which is the lack of respect for the will of Venezuelans,” he said.

Venezuela without normality

The ambassador also said that Venezuelans are not returning to normal lives for many reasons, such as schools that are not working well. “We have read about a shortage of resources, that they do not have teachers for all the classrooms,” he indicated.

Another fundamental factor is that the economy in the country is frozen and that the lack of economic activity will persist as long as the government leadership does not recognize democratic spaces.

The possibility of starting a new migratory crisis of Venezuelans che post-electoral situation is based, according to Palmieri, on the loss of hope and the lack of economic activity.

“Venezuelans want a way out of the entire crisis through collective action, supported by the international community. “That is the way to support the country so that people can stay with their families, building the best life for themselves and their children,” he expressed.