The Executive Secretariat of the São Paulo Forum:
– Denounces the new actions of the Government of the United States of America for a military initiative under the banner of “humanitarian intervention” in Venezuela and any attempt to solve the crisis affecting the Venezuelan people other than through its own internal decision-making processes.
– Rejects the attempts of the United States in the United Nations Security Council, using the pretexts of the defense of Human Rights and the humanitarian situation to justify their attempts of intervention, while imposing on the Venezuelan people a policy of encirclement under the economic blockade that is generating economic damages and consequently, the worsening of the crisis.
– Defends the right to self-determination of the Venezuelan people, who democratically elected their government in serious and transparent elections, previously verified by recognized international organizations and praised by the former president of the United States, Jimmy Carter, and more recently by the former president of the Spanish government, José Luis Zapatero, with more than 5.8 million voters.
– Reaffirms the commitment of the São Paulo Forum to support peace, in accordance with the CELAC Declaration that in January 2014 declared Latin America and the Caribbean as a Zone of Peace.
– Expresses its welcome and support to the Montevideo Mechanism, an initiative of Mexico, Uruguay, Bolivia and the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), which seeks a solution based on the principles of non-intervention in internal affairs, legal equality of States and peaceful settlement of disputes.
– Recalls that international organizations such as the United Nations and the International Red Cross, which has a recognized role in conflict situations, questioned and expressed doubts regarding the “humanitarian aid” plan, and that under the leadership of the United States, the wars in Syria, Iraq and Libya, and many others in Latin American and Caribbean nations, had a high price in human lives.
We reiterate our support and solidarity with the Venezuelan people, President Nicolas Maduro, and urge the entire international community to defend peace, dialogue and the right of the Venezuelan people to sovereignty and self-determination.
Monica Valente
Executive Secretary
Sao Paulo, 20 February 2019.
Translation by Internationalist 360°
Original: Comunicado sobre Venezuela, Secretaria Ejecutiva, Foro de São Paulo