For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
December 13, 2002
Statement by the Press Secretary
U.S. Reaffirms Support for OAS Secretary General's Efforts in Venezuela
and Calls for Early Elections
The United States is deeply concerned about the deteriorating
situation in Venezuela. In the past week the shooting of peaceful
demonstrators, attacks on television, radio, and newspaper media
outlets and disruptions to the Venezuelan economy have created a grave
situation. These events have caused great pain and hardship in
Venezuela. The Venezuelan people deserve better.
The United States calls on all sides to reject violence and
intimidation, and to act responsibly. We urge a peaceful, democratic,
constitutional, and politically viable electoral solution to
Venezuela's crisis. We reaffirm our support for OAS Secretary General
Cesar Gaviria's efforts in Caracas to facilitate such an outcome.
Secretary General Gaviria has strong hemispheric support for the
dialogue and mediation process that he is chairing, evidenced by the
many expressions of support from hemispheric leaders. The United
States is actively engaged, working with the OAS and with hemispheric
leaders, to help achieve these objectives.
We note the Secretary General's recent public warning on the need
to negotiate soon, in the next few days, or risk further polarization
that could erupt into violence. We echo the Secretary General, and
call on all sides to redouble their commitment to this dialogue and to
national reconciliation. We also urge the Government of Venezuela to
exercise its constitutional responsibility to respect individual rights
and fundamental freedoms, and to adhere to the Inter-American
Democratic Charter.
While the hemispheric community and other friends will do all they
can to help, only Venezuelans themselves can resolve their own
problems. The United States is convinced that the only peaceful and
politically viable path to moving out of the crisis is through the
holding of early elections.
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