Declaration of the third meeting of the Lima Group on the situation in Venezuela

(unofficial translation)

The foreign ministers and representatives of Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay and Peru gathered in Toronto on October 26, 2017, to continue their evaluation of the situation in Venezuela:

1. Reiterate their rejection of the obstacles, acts of intimidation, manipulation, social coercion and influencing of the vote, among other irregularities, that characterized regional elections held in Venezuela on October 15 and consider the revision of the electoral system to be urgent, including, in particular, the renewal of the National Electoral Council, with members appointed by the National Assembly, and the issuance of an electoral schedule that should be supervised by independent electoral observers.

2. Demand the immediate release of all political prisoners in Venezuela and the end of arbitrary measures that disqualify opposition political leaders, as well as restrict their free movement.

3. Reaffirm their decision not to recognize the acts emanating from the National Constituent Assembly and reiterate their full support of the democratically elected National Assembly.

4. Condemn the fact that the Government of Venezuela does not allow international assistance to help meet the basic needs of the population, particularly health care and food, when the international community is bearing witness to the worsening humanitarian crisis in that country. According to trusted sources, child malnutrition stands at 11.4%, equivalent to a state of crises, according to international standards; primary school dropout rate increased 45% and the cost of the basic food basket has increased 343% in the last year. Regarding health, 85% of persons who requiring medicines can no longer find them; and diseases like malaria, which until 2014 were thought to be eradicated, rose by 76%.

5. Call on the Secretary General and the UN system to address the crisis and the ongoing violations of human rights, and entrust the foreign ministers of Canada and of Peru with conveying this to the Secretary General.

6. Express their concern over the exodus of thousands of Venezuelans, a situation that continues to worsen and represents an enormous challenge to the countries of the region, especially to those bordering Venezuela.

7. Declare that a negotiated agreement between both parties, with international monitoring and in compliance with the conditions previously sought by the opposition, is the only peaceful solution to the current crisis. Reiterate their willingness to support all efforts of credible and bona fide negotiations, and urge the different opposition forces to maintain their unity, with a common programmatic front, as an indispensable condition to achieve a solution to the crisis in Venezuela.

8. Reaffirm their commitment, at the level of foregin ministers, to remain vigilant about the situation in Venezuela, and to take appropriate measures, either individually or collectively, to promote the restoration of the rule of law and the democratic order in that country.

9. Decide to meet in Chile, in January 2018.

Toronto, October 26, 2017