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Written question asked by Lord Swire (Conservative) on Thursday, 23 March 2017, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 27 March 2017. It was answered by Alan Duncan (Conservative) on Friday, 31 March 2017 on behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Venezuela: Politics and Government

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with his EU counterparts on the political and economic situation in Venezuela.

Answer

We share the concerns of the international community about the deteriorating political and economic situation in Venezuela. Economic mismanagement is producing inflation and shortages of basic goods, with a significant impact upon ordinary Venezuelans. Venezuela became an FCO Human Rights Priority Country in 2016. President Maduro has requested United Nations assistance to boost medical supplies.

The Organisation of American States (OAS) has called for the OAS Democratic Charter to be invoked unless the Venezuelan Government calls elections and releases political prisoners. The UNASUR- supported dialogue between the Government and opposition has stalled.

I met the previous Venezuelan Minister for Europe, Samuel Moncada at the EU-CELAC Foreign Minister's meeting on 26 October and discussed humanitarian issues and the economic situation. At that meeting I also raised the deteriorating situation in Venezuela with several of my Latin American and European counterparts. On 20 March I met a delegation of Venezuelan MPs from the National Assembly to discuss the situation and to highlight our support for an independent and empowered Parliament. The EU Foreign Affairs Committee last discussed Venezuela on 18 July, which was attended by the Foreign Secretary.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
68907
Session
2016-17
Grouped for answer
Yes
Subjects
Economic situation EU action Politics and government Venezuela
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk