Abinader does not rule out that Venezuela will be discussed during his inauguration

• Luis Abinader estimated that at least six countries in the region will participate in the meeting | Main photo: presidencia.gob.do

The re-elected president of the Dominican Republic, Luis Abinader, did not rule out that the issue of Venezuela will be addressed informally by some of the heads of state or government who will attend his inauguration in Santo Domingo on Friday, August 16 for a second term.

When asked at his weekly press conference about the possible celebration in Santo Domingo of a Regional summit on Venezuelawhich the president of Panama, José Raúl Mulino, spoke about the week of August 5, Abinader responded that he has not been invited to a formal meeting because the invitation is for the inauguration.

“When the majority of Latin American presidents meet, we do not rule out that this topic may not be discussed informally by all of them, but only by a portion of those who have had some comment on the Venezuelan elections. This will continue for a few weeks,” Abinader said on Monday, August 12.

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Photo: EFE

Latin American leaders will address the issue of Venezuela

On August 8, the president of Panama indicated that the regional summit he proposed to hold in his country to address the post-electoral crisis in Venezuela could be held the week of August 12, but in the Dominican Republic, taking advantage of the presence of the leaders there for Abinader’s inauguration.

“That meeting that I am trying to hold, we already have 6-7 confirmed presidents who would come to Panama; however, all or almost all of us will coincide in the Dominican Republic on August 22 and 23 for the swearing-in of President Abinader for the second time and perhaps, with President Abinader’s permission, we can have the meeting there,” said Mulino.

Mulino’s idea is that the 17 governments that voted in the 31st of July will attend the meeting. Organization of American States (OAS) in favor of a resolution that called on the Venezuelan authorities to publish “immediately” the minutes of the July 28 elections, an initiative that ultimately did not prosper.

The countries that voted in favor of the resolution were Argentina, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, the United States, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, the Dominican Republic, Suriname and Uruguay.

Following the Venezuelan elections on July 28, the National Electoral Council (CNE) ratified the victory of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, which is not recognized by much of the international community.

Photo: CNE

IDEA Group seeks to put pressure on Venezuela issue

For its part, the Democratic Initiative of Spain and the Americas (IDEA Group) On Monday, August 12, the United Nations called on the governments of Brazil, Colombia and Mexico to ask the government of Nicolás Maduro to publish the voting records of the presidential elections of July 28.

“(The IDEA Group) informs the public that (…) it is informing the governments of Brazil, Colombia and Mexico of their obligation to demand that this (the government of Nicolás Maduro) present to them, and their electoral bodies, immediately, the voting records, table by table and broken down,” the organization wrote in a press release.

The organization, made up of 37 former presidents from Latin America and Spain, highlighted that the United Nations (UN) denounced the repression by the Venezuelan government, which has increased in the country after the presidential elections.

“We must put an end to the tragedy that has left thousands of victims in Venezuela and denies it its right to a transition to democracy and peace. The UN has demanded an end to the repression and an investigation into the repressors following the presidential election,” added the IDEA Group.

With information from EFE

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