The United States noted with cautious enthusiasm the change in position of Argentina on Venezuela

Paula Lugones

07/15/2020 - 22:02

• Clarín.com
• Politics

Washington. Correspondent

The United States highlighted this Wednesday that Argentina has "vigorously denounced human rights abuses in Venezuela" and "demanded free elections" in that country, after the Government expressed "deep concern" about the human rights situation under the Nicolás Maduro regime.

The reaction shows cautious enthusiasm for the new Argentine declaration, and a softer tone from Washington on the relationship between the government of Alberto Fernández and Venezuela, which is viewed with suspicion in the government of Donald Trump.

When asked by Clarín, a spokesman for the Western Hemisphere department of the State Department affirmed that "Argentina is one of the many Latin American democracies that have vigorously denounced human rights abuses in Venezuela and have demanded free elections there."

And he added that “the current crisis in Venezuela is a test for the international community. International cooperation can achieve a peaceful restoration of democracy, economic stability, and the rule of law in Venezuela. ”

The spokesman also insisted on an exit plan for Venezuela that Washington has been promoting since late March and that was rejected by Argentina. “On March 31, the United States proposed a path to resolve the Venezuelan crisis that is rooted in a peaceful and democratic transition. This framework requires the establishment of a widely acceptable transitional government to administer free and fair presidential elections, and provides a viable avenue to lift Venezuela-related US sanctions. It is proposed as a starting point for a new political process in Venezuela. "

Washington's reaction comes after the Argentine delegation to the Human Rights Council of the United Nations (UN) expressed an early Wednesday "deep concern" about the human rights situation in Venezuela and the serious crisis political, economic and humanitarian that this country suffers.

It was within the framework of the presentation of a new report by the High Commissioner,  Michelle Bachelet, who denounced the lack of judicial independence in Venezuela and the crimes committed by armed groups in the mining area of ​​that country, the Orinoco Mining Arc , declared as a strategic area for the Nicolás Maduro regime.

"Only constitutional order, democracy and the rule of law will make it possible to guarantee the full respect and exercise of all human rights in Venezuela. In this sense, we echo the recent call of the High Commissioner for an inclusive political negotiation, based on human rights and on the restitution of political rights, "said Federico Villegas, Argentine ambassador to international organizations in Geneva.

The diplomat maintained that Venezuela is obliged "to increase efforts to find a peaceful, political and negotiated solution to this serious multidimensional crisis, led by Venezuelans themselves through inclusive, transparent and credible elections."

Villegas' pronouncement drew attention due to its forcefulness, especially after Argentina abstained in the past few days from condemning in the OAS a resolution against the “continuous harassment exercised by the regime” against the Venezuelan electoral system.

In addition, in early April, the government had avoided supporting the US democratization plan for Venezuela, which included a transitional government to call general elections in which both Maduro and opposition leader Juan Guaidó could stand. The Foreign Ministry had said then that the crisis must be resolved "by the Venezuelans themselves without external pressure or conditioning ."

After that rejection, the adviser to President Donald Trump for Latin America, Mauricio Claver Carone, had replied harshly: "I would ask the government of Argentina to have the same solidarity and the desire for freedom with the Venezuelan people that they had when they were looking for them be free, "said the official, comparing the Maduro regime with the Argentine dictatorship of the 1970s.

And he added that "dictatorships should not have ideologies and it is very important that we all have the necessary solidarity and that we all work together towards democracy." The tone of the State Department was different today.