Meaningful dialogue between all parties in the matters concerning Venezuela.
The need for this was underscored by T&T when Prime Minister Keith Rowley held final meetings on Venezuela at the United Nations (UN) - including with the United States’ representative to the UN.
This was confirmed via a statement from the Office of the Prime Minister last night.
Rowley held a meeting with Ambassador Jonathan Cohen, the US’ representative to the UN, at the end of a round of New York meetings which Caricom’s delegation held with UN officials on the Venezuelan crisis.
The delegation, headed by Caricom chairman (St Kitts Prime Minister) Timothy Harris, left Monday on a mission to seek a peaceful resolution to the turmoil that has plagued Venezuela in recent weeks.
The crisis has been heightened by the Venezuelan National Assembly head Juan Guaido’s self-declaration as President. He’s set about making various appointments and is being backed by a number of other countries including the US, Canada, Israel, Australia several Latin territories in the Lima Group and others. Increasing pressure on the embattled Maduro administration, the US this week slapped sanctions on Venezuelan’s PDVSA oil company and yesterday heighted its travel advisory to the highest, warning citizens against Venezuela. Guaido has supported the US’ sanctions.
During yesterday’s Caricom lobby the delegation, which included Caricom secretary general Irwin LaRocque and T&T’s ambassador to the UN Pennelope Beckles, met with the President of the United Nations, María Fernanda Espinosa Garcés, at the UN’s Headquarters in New York.
After that meeting, the delegation met with Permanent Representatives to the UN from South Africa, Uraguay, Brazil, Australia and Nicaragua.
The OPM also stated: “At the end of this round of Caricom meetings, T&T held a bilateral meeting with Ambassador Jonathan Cohen, US Representative to the UN.”
“During the discussion, T&T as part of the Caricom delegation outlined its concerns about the volatility of the Venezuelan situation and the existential threat that it poses to the stability of the region. T&T also emphasised the need for meaningful dialogue between all parties in these matters and reaffirmed a commitment to working through Caricom and with all external partners within and outside of the region.”
The OPM stated, Rowley also indicated that T&T is committed “to the common objective of improving the conditions of the Venezuelan people whilst ensuring the preservation of the region as a Zone of Peace.”
Rowley is expected home today.
European countries have given Maduro eight days to call fresh elections — but he’s rejected this call.
Seeking his own terms, Maduro said Monday that he’s open to meeting his Venezuelan opponents in T&T or “wherever “ for dialogue or negotiations on the situation.
Howeve,r in an interview with CNN En Espanol, Guaido said he’s hoping to win the support of Venezuela’s armed forces to convince Maduro to step down and was” ready to do what’s necessary to see democracy.” But Guaido warned he wouldn’t start a “false dialogue” with a regime that jails and tortures political opponents.
He, however, said Maduro and members of Venezuela’s military “could be granted amnesty as part of a transition toward democracy.”