In Washington, the US continues to closely monitor Venezuela’s political dynamics, emphasizing the dialogue it has sustained before modifying the sanctions regime. This position was detailed by Frank Mora, US spokesman at the Organization of American States (OAS), in an interview with Voice of America.
Mora stressed the importance of continued vigilance in Venezuelan affairs and advocated respecting the election results after both Nicolás Maduro and his challenger, Edmundo González, claimed victory. “Our assessment is clear: Edmundo González has garnered enough votes to be considered the winner. However, prematurely considering him ‘president-elect’ could complicate ongoing diplomatic efforts,” he said.
The United States urges caution, noting that such statements could inject confusion or unnecessary tension and hinder diplomatic efforts to promote dialogue and a potential resolution. “The path to dialogue is fraught with challenges and the outcome remains uncertain,” Mora noted.
The OAS’s efforts to pass a resolution calling for immediate transparency in the election results faltered, managing only 17 votes in favor with significant abstentions and absences. Despite this setback, Mora reiterated the importance of the OAS in addressing electoral concerns and highlighted the broader implications of the situation in Venezuela, including reports of violence and widespread dissatisfaction.
“There is an internal and informal review in the United States and among OAS colleagues on the possibility of reconsidering this resolution,” Mora added, hinting at future diplomatic maneuvers without specifying when the OAS Permanent Council might reconvene to deliberate further.
Mora also mentioned Venezuela’s withdrawal from the OAS in April 2019, highlighting strained relations following Maduro’s criticism of the organization as a tool of imperial influence. However, diplomatic channels remain active, with ongoing discussions involving Brazil, Mexico and Colombia aimed at mediating the crisis.
Regarding potential changes in U.S. sanctions policy amid the election dispute, Mora clarified: “At the moment, we are not considering new sanctions. We aim to give time for multilateral and bilateral diplomatic processes to unfold effectively.”
Amid calls for international legal action against Maduro at an upcoming OAS meeting, the U.S. ambassador indicated that while the United States supports the efforts of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights and respects the defense of OAS Secretary General Luis Almagro, it will not participate in the ICC’s actions due to its failure to adhere to the treaty establishing the court.
While world attention remains focused on Venezuela, the United States and its partners continue to seek a peaceful solution that respects the will of the Venezuelan people, although Mora cautioned that achieving these diplomatic goals requires patience and a thorough understanding of complex international relations.
