- Title: OAS nations weigh in on Venezuela crisis at Cancun meeting
- Date: 19th June 2017
- Summary: CANCUN, QUINTANA ROO, MEXICO (JUNE 19, 2017) (REUTERS) PALM TREES MOVING IN THE RAIN RAIN FALLING ON THE GROUND GENERAL VIEW OF OAS GENERAL ASSEMBLY VENUE IN WET WEATHER FLAGS OF OAS MEMBER STATES LINED UP AT VENUE VENEZUELAN FOREIGN MINISTER DELCY RODRIGUEZ ARRIVING AT VENUE RODRIGUEZ SPEAKING TO DOMINICAN FOREIGN MINISTER FRANCINE BARON RODRIGUEZ WALKING THROUGH FOYER AT VENUE OF MEETING OPPOSITION LAWMAKERS FROM VENEZUELA AT NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) OPPOSITION LAWMAKER FROM VENEZUELA, WILLIAM DAVILA, SAYING: "The majority of countries of the OAS are completely clear on the critical economic and social situation that is happening in Venezuela. That is the good news. The majority of countries have a very clear and positive position. I am confident that there needs to be a favourable outcome in today's meeting." OFFICIALS AT NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) OPPOSITION LAWMAKER FROM VENEZUELA, LUIS FLORIDO, SAYING: "The only thing that this meeting is doing, and the first issue is Venezuela. That is a victory for the Venezuelan people because it shows that with the organisation its main issue is to resolve the crisis in Venezuela. No one doubts anymore that Venezuela is in crisis." OFFICIALS STANDING UP AT END OF NEWS CONFERENCE FLAGS FROM OAS NATIONS AT VENUE (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) BOLIVIAN FOREIGN MINISTER FERNANDO HUANACUNI, SAYING: "A solution will not come with the number of those who support it. As fellow countries, the solution will come with finding dialogue between countries and internally in Venezuela. Thank you." GENERAL VIEW OF NEWS CONFERENCE WITH CHILEAN FOREIGN MINISTER HERALDO MUNOZ (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) CHILEAN FOREIGN MINISTER HERALDO MUNOZ, SAYING: "Venezuelans have to decide their own future but in collaboration with the community in the region. That is Chile's position and we will try to build bridges to arrive at an agreement that will re-establish democratic and constitutional order in Venezuela and for parties to feel there is a path that represents everyone." MUNOZ SPEAKING TO MEDIA PEOPLE IN FOYER OF VENUE HOLDING OAS MEETING BUS TRANSPORTING PARENTS OF MISSING 43 STUDENTS AND THEIR SUPPORTERS TO A LOCATION BLOCKED OFF BY FEDERAL POLICE FEDERAL POLICE BLOCKING ACCESS TO HOTEL HOLDING OAS MEETING PARENTS OF MISSING 43 AND THEIR SUPPORTERS TALKING TO OFFICERS
- Embargoed: 3rd July 2017 21:08
- Keywords: Organization of American States General Assembly Nicolas Maduro Venezuela
- Location: CANCUN, MEXICO
- Reuters ID: LVA0016LY3RK3
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Members of the Organisation of American States (OAS) are bracing for a stormy start to the body's General Assembly in Cancun on Monday (June 19) with a political and social crisis in Venezuela high on the agenda.
The OPEC nation has been wracked by protests and widespread discontent amidst product shortages, a flailing economy and widespread crime.
Some members of the OAS are seeking to censure Venezuelan for violating the group's democratic charter.
President Nicolas Maduro has rebuffed calls for an early election. Instead, he has proposed a constituent assembly with the power to change the constitution.
But critics fear the new body will be stacked with government supporters.
As host, Mexico will seek support for a resolution on Venezuela at the Cancun meeting.
But with talk on Venezuela expected to expose the deep left and right divides of Latin American nations, some foreign ministers have talked up inclusive dialogue as the only path to a resolution.
Venezuela has previously rejected such overtures, and in April announced it will begin the process to withdraw from the OAS.
At another site in Cancun, parents of Mexico's 43 missing students feared massacred also gathered to call for the return of their loved ones.
More than two years after they went missing, the remains of the majority of the victims are still to be found. Mexico's government claims the bodies of the students were incinerated at a rubbish dump in the lawless state of Guerrero.
But investigators from OAS member states have cast doubt on official investigations in Mexico. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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