The Foreign Ministers and representatives of Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay and Peru, gathered in Toronto, on 26 October 2017, following up on their evaluation of the situation in Venezuela:
1. Reiterate their rejection against the obstacles, acts of intimidation, manipulation, social coercion and the influence on voting, among other irregularities that characterized the regional elections held in Venezuela on 15 October 2017, and consider it urgent that the electoral system be revised, particularly including the renewal of the National Electoral Council with members appointed by the National Assembly and the issuance of a calendar for elections, which must be overseen by independent electoral monitors;
2. Demand the immediate release of all political prisoners in Venezuela and the end of all the arbitrary measures that disqualify the opposition political leaders and those that restrict their free movement;
3. Reaffirm their decision not to recognize the acts of the National Constituent Assembly, as well as their full support for the democratically elected National Assembly;
4. Deplore the fact that the Venezuelan Government does not allow access to international assistance in order to help meet the basic needs of the population, particularly in the health care and food areas, as the international community witnesses the worsening humanitarian crisis in that country. According to trusted sources, child malnutrition stands at 11.4%, equivalent to a state of crisis, according to international standards; the primary school dropout rate has increased by 45%, and the cost of the basic food basket by 343% in the last year. Regarding health, 85% of the people who need medicines can no longer find them, and diseases that were thought to be eradicated as of 2014, such as malaria, have risen by 76%.
5. Call on the Secretary General and the United Nations 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 displacement of thousands of Venezuelans, a situation that continues to worsen and represents an enormous challenge for the countries of the region, especially those bordering Venezuela;
7. Declare that a negotiated agreement between both parties, with the support of the international community 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 negotiations undertaken in good faith, and urge the various opposition groups to maintain their unity, with a common platform, as an essential condition to reaching a solution to the crisis in Venezuela;
8. Reaffirm their commitment, at the level of Foreign Ministers, to remain watchful of the situation in Venezuela and to adopt appropriate measures, either individually or collectively, to promote the full restoration of the rule of law and democratic order in that country; and
9. Decide to meet in Chile in January 2018.
Press release No. 478/17
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