- Title: Mercosur suspends Venezuela, urges immediate transition
- Date: 5th August 2017
- Summary: SAO PAULO, BRAZIL (AUGUST 05, 2017) (REUTERS) JOURNALISTS / GENERAL VIEW OF MEETING OF FOREIGN MINISTERS FROM THE MERCOSUR TRADE BLOC VARIOUS MORE OF MERCOSUR MEETING CLOSE-UP OF THE MERCOSUR LOGO (KNOWN AS MERCOSUL IN PORTUGUESE) MERCOSUR FOREIGN MINISTERS AND MAYOR OF SAO PAULO AT NEWS CONFERENCE - FROM LEFT TO RIGHT, FOREIGN MINISTER OF ARGENTINA, JORGE FAURIE; FOREIGN MINISTER OF PARAGUAY, ELADIO LOIZAGA; FOREIGN MINISTER OF BRAZIL, ALOYSIO NUNES FERREIRA; MAYOR OF THE CITY OF SAO PAULO, JOAO DORIA; AND FOREIGN MINISTER OF URUGUAY, RODOLFO NIN NOVOA (SOUNDBITE) (Portuguese) FOREIGN MINISTER OF BRAZIL, ALOYSIO NUNES FERREIRA, SAYING: "The application of sanctions that are politically natured and serious which are the suspension of the rights and obligations this country (Venezuela) has in the Mercosur, and we did this today with absolute consensual agreement between us." GENERAL OF NEWS CONFERENCE SIGN FOR DISPLAYING FOREIGN MINISTER OF ARGENTINA, JORGE FAURIE'S NAME / FAURIE LISTENING (SOUNDBITE) (Portuguese) FOREIGN MINISTER OF ARGENTINA, JORGE FAURIE, SAYING: "It is very bad to have to push a brother out the door, but we did so with conviction because we are watching a situation that causes us great pain. We're seeing people killed, we're seeing repression. (Brazilian Foreign Minister) Aloysio (Ferreira) put it very well, 'enough with the deaths, enough with the repression'." GENERAL OF NEWS CONFERENCE SOUNDBITE) (Portuguese) FOREIGN MINISTER OF ARGENTINA, JORGE FAURIE, SAYING: "It's something that will never be measured economically or commercially. The loss of commerce or whatever's going to happen doesn't matter. What we are saying here is you can't kill your people. You can't take away rights. You have to respect liberty. That's what democracy is. And if you are part of Latin America, you are democratic. If you are not democratic, you stop being Latin American." VARIOUS OF MOSTLY VENEZUELAN DEMONSTRATORS GATHERED OUTSIDE SAO PAULO CITY HALL WHERE MERCOSUR MEETING HELD VARIOUS OF DEMONSTRATORS WITH PROTESTS SIGNS, SOME IN SHAPE OF A BLACK CROSS WITH NAMES OF PEOPLE KILLED WRITTEN ON THEM SIGN ON ONE OF THE BLACK CROSSES READING (Spanish) 'MADURO'S A MURDERER' MORE OF DEMONSTRATORS WITH SIGNS AND BLACK CROSSES
- Embargoed: 19th August 2017 18:29
- Keywords: Brazil Venezuela South American trade bloc Mercosur suspended Venezuela constituent assembly
- Location: SAO PAULO, BRAZIL
- City: SAO PAULO, BRAZIL
- Country: Brazil
- Topics: Government/Politics,International Trade
- Reuters ID: LVA0016SVQ1C3
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: South American trade bloc Mercosur suspended Venezuela indefinitely on Saturday (August 5), adding to international pressure on President Nicolas Maduro to dismantle a newly created pro-government constituent assembly and restore democracy.
Foreign ministers of Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay and Brazil announced the decision in Sao Paulo, urging Maduro to release prisoners and immediately start a political transition.
As the suspension was announced, the constituent assembly removed dissident state prosecutor Luisa Ortega from her job.
Mercosur has no provision for expulsion. It had suspended Venezuela temporarily in December for not complying with the bloc's regulations and toughened its stance following the controversial election of the constituent assembly on Sunday (July 30) and the arrest of several opposition leaders.
Countries around the world have condemned the vote, calling it a bid to extend Maduro's rule indefinitely. Argentina's Foreign Minister Jorge Faurie labelled Venezuela a dictatorship.
Although Venezuela sits on the world's largest-known oil reserves, millions are suffering food shortages and soaring inflation. Months of anti-government unrest have killed more than 120 people. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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