Acting Secretary of State John Sullivan will be in Lima, #Peru April 11-14 to accompany Vice President Mike Pence at the Eighth Summit of the Americas. During the Summit, the United States will promote economic prosperity in the #WesternHemisphere, and address the political and humanitarian crisis in #Venezuela.
The United States reiterates our call that Venezuela restore democracy, hold free and fair elections, release all political prisoners immediately and unconditionally, and end the repression of the Venezuelan people. We continue to stand with the people of Venezuela during these trying times.
Spokesperson Heather Nauert: The United States strongly condemns the assumption of legislative powers by the illegitimate Constituent Assembly. This power grab is designed to supplant the democratically-elected National Assembly with an authoritarian committee operating above the law. In our view, the democratically-elected National Assembly is the only legitimate legislative body.
In Buenos Aires, Argentina, Vice President Mike Pence visited the Metropolitan Cathedral to lay a wreath at General San Martin’s tomb and visit their memorial to Holocaust victims. The Vice President then met with Argentine President Mauricio Macri and discussed trade issues, Argentina’s emerging global leadership role, and the deteriorating situation in Venezuela. Speaking at Bolsa de Comercio to Argentine and Latin American business leaders, Vice President Pence talked about how Latin America has come so far in terms of prosperity and security because it shares a commitment to freedom, democracy, and the rule of law. The Vice President and Second Lady Karen Pence ended their visit to Argentina by meeting with embassy staff and their families to thank them for all the work they do on behalf of the American people.
Today, Secretary Tillerson welcomed Canadian Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland to the @StateDept in Washington, D.C. The Secretary and Foreign Minister discussed a number of important issues, including #NAFTA renegotiations, #NorthKorea, #Venezuela, #Ukraine, economic issues, and advancing the Columbia River Treaty. Secretary Tillerson said, “This is just an extraordinarily strong relationship between the U.S. and #Canada, built on strong security, economic values, and shared values around freedom and tolerance.”
Today, the U.S. Department of Treasury sanctioned 13 current and former senior officials of the Government of #Venezuela.
The United States is standing by the Venezuelan people in their quest to restore their country to a full and prosperous democracy.
Today’s designations focus on current and former officials of Venezuelan Government agencies associated with the elections or the undermining of democracy, as well as the government’s rampant violence against opposition protesters and its corruption. As a result of today’s actions, all assets of these individuals subject to U.S. jurisdiction are frozen, and U.S. persons are prohibited from dealing with them.
https://go.usa.gov/xRnz2
Yesterday, at a @unitednations Human Rights Council side event, @USUN Ambassador @nikkihaley spoke about #humanrights and #democracy in #Venezuela, saying “For years, what has passed for “peace” in Venezuela has masked horrendous inner suffering. Venezuela’s security has been utterly insecure because it has been purchased with the human rights and self-determination of its people.”
Today, Secretary Tillerson met with Brazilian Foreign Minister Aloysio Nunes Ferreira at @StateDept in Washington, D.C. Secretary Tillerson and Foreign Minister Nunes discussed the strong bilateral relations between the two countries and the importance of the U.S.-#Brazil partnership. Secretary Tillerson thanked Foreign Minister Nunes for the Government of Brazil’s support on a variety of topics, including our commitment to promote economic growth, investment, and job creation in both countries. The leaders also noted our cooperation on law enforcement, #security, regional, and global issues, including the situation in #Venezuela.
Under Secretary Shannon said, “…instead of abandoning our hemispheric community of democratic nations and further isolating itself from the international community, we urge the Venezuelan Government to fulfill the commitments it freely made last fall during its participation in the Vatican-backed dialogue process – namely, to promote free elections, respect the independence of the National Assembly, respect the freedoms of all of Venezuela’s political prisoners, and meet the humanitarian needs of the Venezuelan people.” Read his full remarks: https://go.usa.gov/xNNQ4.
(Source: state.gov)
Readout
May 31, 2017
The below is attributable to Spokesperson Heather Nauert:
U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson hosted a working breakfast this morning with Canada’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Chrystia Freeland and Mexico’s Secretary of Foreign Relations Luis Videgaray at the Department of State in Washington, D.C. The three leaders discussed today’s Organization of American States (OAS) Meeting of Consultation of Ministers of Foreign Affairs on Venezuela; the OAS General Assembly in Cancun, Mexico, June 19-21, 2017; and other regional issues.
(Source: state.gov)
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