In a joint statement released by the Mexican Foreign Ministry, fourteen American countries, including Costa Rica, called on Venezuela to release its “political prisoners” and establish an electoral calendar.
The statement was signed by Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, United States, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Peru and Uruguay.
Presidential elections in Venezuela are scheduled for December 2018, while those of governors were postponed until 2017 and there is not an established date yet.
Luis Almagro, secretary general of the Organization of American States (OAS), issued a voluminous 75-page report on the Venezuelan political situation. He even suggested that Venezuela should be suspended from the OAS in case it does not hold a general election in the near future.
In response, President Nicolas Maduro’s government accused Almagro of promoting an “international intervention” in his country.
In their letter, the 14 countries asked Venezuela to guarantee effective separation of powers and respect for the rule of law and democratic institutions.
However, they considered that “suspending a member country is the last resort,” and stressed that dialogue and negotiation are the ideal way to reach lasting solutions to Venezuelan problems.