Mondino at OAS, on election in Venezuela: “When the will of the people is under threat, there can be no half measures”

In Washington DC today, at the headquarters of the Organization of American States (OAS), Foreign Minister Diana Mondino participated in the extraordinary session held to discuss the results of the election in Venezuela, which was convened at the request of Argentina, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Ecuador, the United States, Guatemala, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, the Dominican Republic and Uruguay.

Before her counterparts and regional representatives, the Foreign Minister stressed the fraudulent nature of the election held in Venezuela on Sunday 28 July: "The fraud has been evident.The electoral records are online and the advantage in the number of votes obtained by the opposition is overwhelming." And she added: "When the will of the people is threatened, there can be no half measures. We know that this must be denounced and action must be taken, and that is what I am doing."

With reference to the draft resolution that was discussed in the afternoon, Mondino stated: "This Council cannot remain indifferent to the people of Venezuela, who gave us a demonstration of civility by going to the polls on Sunday in peace and with a massive turnout, in the hope of becoming the protagonists of their own history once again. I can't conceive of us letting that history be taken away from them."

"Several armed groups reporting to Maduro's regime and the Army itself seem to be wanting to remain in power indefinitely. And this is not new. Problems go a long way back. And yet, it is surprising to see the current cruelty. We have seen the proscription and persecution of political opposition leaders, the rejection of observers and the foreign press, and barriers preventing their own fellow nationals from exercising the right to vote abroad," the Foreign Minister added.

The Argentine Minister further said: "Maduro's regime is not in line with the law. It violates not only international regulations, but also institutional guarantees set forth in their own domestic legislation. He is a leader that makes his own people suffer."

Mondino then went on to vehemently complain about the situation of the six asylum seekers in the Argentine Residence in Caracas and denounced Venezuela's violation of the Convention on Diplomatic Asylum. "Despite Argentina's reiterated requests, Maduro has not allowed the issuance of safe-conducts for the persecuted opposition leaders. It has been more than four months since they took refuge in the Residence of the Argentine Embassy to Caracas. They have been withheld authorization to leave safely from Venezuela. This illegal and really harmful situation,has been aggravated by the regrettable decision made by the Government of Nicolás Maduro to expel the Argentine diplomats, which was communicated to us on 26 July," she stated.

"Without any guarantees, without any freedom or physical integrity safeguards for our asylum seekers, the Argentina Republic warns of the consequences of this situation. I appeal to the solidarity of all countries to cooperate with diplomatic efforts in protecting the asylum seekers," she said.

Mondino also described the alarming situation faced in the Argentine Residence in Caracas. "The harassment has been constant. The electricity supply was cut. There have been intimidations by hooded people. We have all seen the details. I remind the regime of Mr. Maduro that it is an obligation of the receiving State to protect the facilities of diplomatic missions from intrusions or damage and to preserve their tranquillity and dignity."

"Argentina requests the international community to strive for compliance with the international rules that govern diplomatic relations between States," she added.

In concluding, she stated the following: "I believe the OAS has to send a clear message. Let the asylum seekers leave. Let us not be complicit in fraud. Do not let the region be indifferent to the will of the people expressed on Sunday 28 July. We must not go along with this charade. We must be capable of telling right from wrong."

Public link

Please use the above public link if you want to share this noodl on another website.