Vice Minister Marina Sereni had a videoconference meeting with a representative of the Venezuelan National Assembly, led by parliamentarian Julio Borges. The meeting, requested by the Venezuelan side, was aimed at drawing attention to the situation in the Country also in view of the elections for the renewal of the National Assembly called by the regime on December 6th.
The Vice Minister stated that Italy remains committed, also as part of the International Contact Group, to the search for a peaceful, democratic, shared and internal solution to the Venezuelan crisis, which can only be achieved through dialogue between the parties. “Our first concern – VM Sereni affirmed – is humanitarian and aims to alleviate the suffering of the population, including those who had to leave the country”.
“In line with the EU – she continued – we reiterate our full support to the National Assembly, the only democratically elected body in the country, and to its legitimate President Guaidó. We continue to call on the Venezuelan regime for the immediate release of all political prisoners. We are also concerned about the absence of an agreement between the government and the opposition on minimum conditions for free, fair and credible parliamentary elections”.
“We fully support the line taken by EU High Representative Borrell, recently reiterated also at the ministerial meeting of the International Contact Group, according to which every window of opportunity must be seized for the postponement of the elections, with the aim – VM Sereni concluded – of creating the indispensable conditions for the credibility of the electoral process and the organisation of a European observation mission”.
