Natasha Niebieskikwiat
02/04/2021 18:37
Clarín.com
World
Updated 02/04/2021 18:37
Just over two weeks after coming to power, the Joseph Biden administration formalized its first approach to the Nicolás Maduro regime.
And that first statement, issued on Wednesday night from the mouth of the new State Department spokesman, Ned Price,
once again leaves
the government of Alberto Fernández
in an uncomfortable situation
for not saying "off side".
On Wednesday night, Price defined Maduro before journalists as
“a dictator,”
and refused to contact him as an interlocutor about the future of Venezuela.
And he stressed that they continue to recognize the opposition leader Juan Guaidó as the "interim president" of Venezuela.
Although it was suggestive when saying that the new administration hoped to work with "partners" and "allies" in the Venezuelan crisis - Price did not name any country - the spokesman for the Secretary of State, Antony Blinken considered the Organization of American States (OAS) and
to the Lima Group as the spaces for "leadership"
to continue "pressing for a democratic transition in Venezuela" to "further strengthen a regional coalition" that advocates "free and fair elections" in the Caribbean country.
The Fernández government ignores Guaidó, advocates dialogue with Maduro, and
endorsed the last and controversial legislative elections imposed by Chavismo
, on December 6, and which were condemned by most of the western democracies endorsed.
Furthermore, it maintains
an
open
confrontation
with Luis Almagro's OAS and with the Lima Group.
He points out that they are and were instruments of the Trump administration - and that former President Mauricio Macri - endorsed plans to invade Venezuela.
Plans that were never actually tested.
The Biden thing is Trump continuity.
Differences
Curiously, the Argentine government joined the International Contact Group with Venezuela to evade commitments with that of Lima.
But when the Contact Group condemned the legislative ones, Argentina
distinguished itself with silence and an abstention at the OAS.
This week the GCI asked for transparent elections, Argentina accompanied, but Foreign Minister Felipe Solá was unmarked with a statement in which he requested "humanitarian access" from Venezuela to "blocked" money - he did not specify - so that he can pay for vaccines against COVID from the fund Covax,
when it is the Venezuelan opposition that demands a mass vaccination plan from Maduro
, which he does not have.
The position of
President Fernández
is so uncomfortable,
for example at the UN - where he has condemned human rights abuses in Venezuela in line with High Commissioner Michelle Bachelet - that last week he came out to deny something that is in course.
These are the conversations that Foreign Minister Andrés Allamand commented to seek a more consensual position at the regional level on Venezuela.
These negotiations exist.
Chile has just joined the Contact Group.
The Argentine President chose to emphasize that he has not discussed this with his counterpart Sebastián Piñera.
Do the foreign ministers work without presidential consensus?
Even so, Government sources consulted by
Clarín flatly deny that Biden's position leaves them in a bad way
.
Furthermore, they point out that Alberto Fernández is "the best positioned president" for an eventual "mediation" dialogue in Venezuela and that for this it is worth remembering - they say here - the democrat spoke with a few Latin American presidents, among whom was the Argentine .
And they are optimistic that this year Alberto F can make a trip to the White House.
They consider that Washington "understands" the Argentine position.
In the communication about the meeting held this Thursday at noon by Foreign Minister Felipe Solá and the business manager of the US embassy, MaryKay Carlson - the mission of Ambassador Edward Prado ended -
Venezuela is not mentioned
.
It was the first contact under the new rules in Washington.
Venezuela did speak to this newspaper.
The Government seeks a rapprochement with Washington through coincidences regarding multilateralism and the fight against climate change.
But reality prevails and the first differences begin to emerge.
In the care that Biden seeks to maintain before the Latinos in Florida who did not vote for him, in the harshness that he promises towards China, and trade protectionism.
PB
Look also
Venezuela: Joe Biden's government rejected any possible contact with Nicolás Maduro and described him as a "dictator"
The Government asked for global help so that Venezuelans can access the coronavirus vaccine