The Argentine Republic, the Federative Republic of Brazil, the Republic of Paraguay and the Oriental Republic of Uruguay,
WHEREAS
In accordance with the provisions of the Ushuaia Protocol on Democratic Commitment in MERCOSUR signed on 24 July 1998, the full application of democratic institutions is an essential condition for the development of the integration process;
Any rupture of democratic order constitutes an unacceptable obstacle to the continuity of the integration process;
Within the framework of the consultations held among the Foreign Ministers of MERCOSUR Member States, the rupture of democratic order in the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela was noted, which was stated in the "Declaration
of MERCOSUR Member States on the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela" adopted on 1 April 2017, and, since then, they have held consultations and requested the State concerned to hold consultations;
The consultations with the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela were unsuccessful because the Government objected to holding such consultations within the framework of the Ushuaia Protocol;
No effective and timely measures for restoring democratic order have been undertaken by the Government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela;
The spirit of the Ushuaia Protocol on Democratic Commitment in MERCOSUR is the restoration of democratic institutions in the State concerned;
The application of the Ushuaia Protocol must not interfere with the operation of MERCOSUR or its bodies, nor cause any harm to the Venezuelan people;
The MERCOSUR Member States are committed to working towards restoring democratic order in the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela and seeking a negotiated and lasting solution for the welfare and development of the Venezuelan people;
HEREBY DECIDE THE FOLLOWING:
1) To suspend the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela from the exercise of all of its rights and duties arising from its condition of MERCOSUR Member State, in accordance with paragraph 2 of Article 5 of the Ushuaia Protocol.
The aforementioned suspension shall be effective as from the date of communication of this Decision to the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, in accordance with Article 6 of the Ushuaia Protocol.
2) The Member States shall adopt measures with the aim of minimizing any negative impact of this suspension on the Venezuelan people.
3) Such suspension shall cease when, in accordance with the provisions of Article 7 of the Ushuaia Protocol, full restoration of democratic order in the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela has been verified.
4) For the duration of the suspension, the provisions of section iii) of Article 40 of the Protocol of Ouro Preto shall take effect upon adoption by Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay, as set out in section ii) of said article.
São Paulo, 5 August 2017
Jorge Marcelo Faurie - Argentine Republic
Aloysio Nunes Ferreira - Federative Republic of Brazil
Eladio Loizaga - Republic of Uruguay
Rodolfo Nin Novoa - Oriental Republic of Uruguay
Press Release No. 316/17
