The head of the Organization of American States on Tuesday defended Venezuelan opposition lawmakers who have been accused of treason for asking the regional body to help overcome a political crisis in their homeland.
Six members of the opposition-controlled National Assembly met with OAS Secretary General Luis Almagro two weeks ago in Washington.
They asked the Uruguayan diplomat to facilitate a dialogue and observe a process initiated by the National Assembly to hold a referendum to recall President Nicolas Maduro.
On the lawmakers' return to Venezuela, ruling party legislators filed a complaint with the country's attorney general, accusing four lawmakers, including three of those who went to the OAS, of "treason against the fatherland."
In a statement, Almagro expressed concern that the lawmakers had been targeted "for visiting me and informing me of the situation in their country and reminding (us) of the commitments that governs all of us in the hemisphere."
He recalled that promoting democracy is a right under the Inter-American Democratic Charter, a binding agreement by the OAS's 34 member states aimed at upholding democratic institutions in the Americas.
"Nobody who acts responsibly in that direction can be a traitor to his country," Almagro said, noting that the visiting lawmakers were "elected by the people of their country."
His statement followed a heated special session of the OAS's permanent council last week in which Venezuelan Foreign Minister Delcy Rodriguez accused Almagro of siding with the opposition and the United States to invoke the charter and intervene in its affairs.
Almagro is considering convening a debate within the OAS on the state of democracy in Venezuela.
He said the Inter-American Democratic Charter does not seek to impose sanctions.
"Possible sanctions are the last resort," Almagro said.
"My duty as secretary general is to guard the fulfillment of the inter-American norms that our countries have agreed to and are an obligation for all of us," he said in the statement.
"Anyone who asks for help, good offices or diplomatic efforts to that end can not and should not be considered a traitor."
The head of the Organization of American States on Tuesday defended Venezuelan opposition lawmakers who have been accused of treason for asking the regional body to help overcome a political crisis in their homeland.
Six members of the opposition-controlled National Assembly met with OAS Secretary General Luis Almagro two weeks ago in Washington.
They asked the Uruguayan diplomat to facilitate a dialogue and observe a process initiated by the National Assembly to hold a referendum to recall President Nicolas Maduro.
On the lawmakers’ return to Venezuela, ruling party legislators filed a complaint with the country’s attorney general, accusing four lawmakers, including three of those who went to the OAS, of “treason against the fatherland.”
In a statement, Almagro expressed concern that the lawmakers had been targeted “for visiting me and informing me of the situation in their country and reminding (us) of the commitments that governs all of us in the hemisphere.”
He recalled that promoting democracy is a right under the Inter-American Democratic Charter, a binding agreement by the OAS’s 34 member states aimed at upholding democratic institutions in the Americas.
“Nobody who acts responsibly in that direction can be a traitor to his country,” Almagro said, noting that the visiting lawmakers were “elected by the people of their country.”
His statement followed a heated special session of the OAS’s permanent council last week in which Venezuelan Foreign Minister Delcy Rodriguez accused Almagro of siding with the opposition and the United States to invoke the charter and intervene in its affairs.
Almagro is considering convening a debate within the OAS on the state of democracy in Venezuela.
He said the Inter-American Democratic Charter does not seek to impose sanctions.
“Possible sanctions are the last resort,” Almagro said.
“My duty as secretary general is to guard the fulfillment of the inter-American norms that our countries have agreed to and are an obligation for all of us,” he said in the statement.
“Anyone who asks for help, good offices or diplomatic efforts to that end can not and should not be considered a traitor.”
