U.S. Special Envoy for Iran and Venezuela Elliott Abrams testifies during a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on September 24, 2020 in Washington, DC.
(Susan Walsh-Pool / Getty Images).
(CNN Spanish) -
The United States special envoy for Venezuelan affairs, Elliott Abrams, criticized the European Union for sending a mission that seeks an electoral agreement in the South American country, according to an interview published by The Washington Post on Sunday.
Abrams said in his remarks that the mediation attempt by a European bloc mission would be undermining US efforts to isolate the questioned president of Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro.
The diplomat focused his criticism in particular on the representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs, Josep Borrell, for having sent a special mission to Caracas, he said, without consulting Washington.
"It's not helpful to have Borrell's office working alone," said Elliott Abrams.
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CNN has requested a reaction from the European Union on these statements but has not yet received a response.
Abrams also said that this situation could create difficulties in relations with the European Union bureaucracy.
And he added that "it's fair to call it cowboy diplomacy."
On August 11, Borrell issued a statement in which he assured that the conditions for a "transparent, inclusive, free and fair electoral process" are not met in Venezuela.
In addition, the official suggested the possibility of extending the electoral deadlines to reach an agreement between the parties.
The United States Department of State reiterated Elliott Abrams' words to the Washington Post in a statement to CNN.
Obviously, these conditions will not be cured simply by postponement;
fraudulent elections are no less fraudulent if they are held a few months later.
Postponing them is not enough, "a State Department spokesman added in the statement.
The parliamentary elections in Venezuela will be held on December 6.
In total, 27 of the main opposition parties ruled out participating in these elections.