Venezuela: all parties must resume dialogue, which is the only way out of the crisis [fr]

Mr. President,

As members of the Security Council, we have the responsibility to contribute constructively to political and peaceful solutions to political crisis. It is in that spirit that we approach today’s discussion on the situation in Venezuela.

I wish first to reaffirm that the solution to the Venezuelan crisis can only be found in full compliance with international law and the Venezuelan constitution.

The use of force must be strongly condemned, without exception.

Respect for international law naturally also applies to the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. And Venezuela has an obligation to guarantee the normal functioning of all foreign embassies in Caracas.

In response to the Venezuelan political crisis, France, together with its partners in the European Union and Latin America, has engaged in diplomatic efforts with the creation of the International Contact Group to promote a resolution of the crisis through dialogue, by taking into account the results of the Oslo/Barbados process among other elements. Inclusive and good-faith dialogue is indeed the only way forward, with a view to the organization of free, transparent and credible elections.

Venezuelans must be able to freely choose their future, and the prerogatives of the National Assembly must be respected, in accordance with the Venezuelan Constitution.

Venezuelans are the first victims of the current crisis, which has lasted too long.

• Millions had to flee their country and we pay tribute to the generosity that many neighboring countries have demonstrated in welcoming and protecting them. The European Union has shown its readiness to support these countries and will hold on May 26 a donors’ conference together with UN agencies in the wake of the solidarity conference that was held in Brussels in October 2019. Our response to this crisis must be inclusive and collective, under the leadership of the UN, and must take into account the dangerous spread of the COVID-19 pandemic whose humanitarian and socio-economical impacts in the region could be terrible.

• The Venezuelans are also suffering from the economic consequences of the political crisis. We call on all actors to ensure safe and unhindered humanitarian access and to reject any politicization of humanitarian aid. This is all the more necessary in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. I recall that France has been increasing its financial contribution over the last years; in total, the European Union provides more than half of the humanitarian aid to Venezuelans.

• Finally, the Venezuelans are suffering from serious and repeated human rights violations. France calls on Venezuela to implement all of the recommendations of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, particularly with regard to the release of political prisoners. We recall that European Union sanctions are individual measures adopted in response to these human rights violations and that they are designed not to affect the population and the response to the pandemic.

As you can see, France, together with its European partners, is committed to all aspects of the Venezuelan issue: political, humanitarian and human rights. We call on all parties to resume dialogue, which is the only way out of the crisis.

Thank you.