“The crisis in Venezuela is taking a turn for the worse”. This was stated by Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Marina Sereni at the meeting of the International Contact Group on Venezuela, who then added: “the humanitarian situation in the country, especially in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, appears very worrying, aggravated by repeated and systematic violations of fundamental human rights by the regime.”
“Since the beginning of the crisis, – said the Vice Minister – Italy has been committed to finding a solution to the sufferings of the Venezuelan people. We need to look for a way out of the political and institutional crisis, and the only possible path is to facilitate dialogue aimed at a negotiated transition process. The way out can only be democratic, peaceful, inclusive and led by the Venezuelan people themselves, with a view to holding credible and inclusive elections as soon as possible. The first step should be the establishment of a fully independent National Electoral Commission.”
“The Contact Group – Ms. Sereni added – must intensify awareness raising at the international level, in particular with the new administration in Washington and with the Lima Group, and of course with other international and regional actors. This is the moment in which the international community and the Contact Group – the Vice Minister concluded – must spare no effort to encourage the resumption of dialogue and the transition process leading to the return of democracy.”
The International Contact Group on Venezuela, made up of the European Union, seven member countries (Italy, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain and Sweden), the United Kingdom and, on the Latin American side, Argentina, Chile, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Panama, the Dominican Republic and Uruguay, issued a statement expressing strong concern about the continuing dramatic crisis in the country.
