Brazil following Venezuela crisis closely

Brazil's government has once again expressed concern about the political instability in Venezuela. In a statement issued by the Foreign Ministry on Tuesday (Feb. 24), the government said it is watching the events in the neighboring country “with great concern”.

The Foreign Ministry said it is monitoring the situation mainly via UNASUR's Committee of Foreign Ministers, consisting of the foreign ministers of Brazil, Colombia and Ecuador, and via direct contact with Venezuela's government. “Some measures taken in the past few days, such as those directly affecting political parties and democratically elected representatives, or those aiming at the shortening of the Presidential mandate, draw growing attention,” the statement read.

“The Brazilian government deems it urgent to resume the political dialogue sponsored by UNASUR's Commission of Foreign Ministers, which counts with the resolute support of the Holy See,” the statement went on, reaffirming Brazil's willingness to actively make its contribution to the talks between President Nicolás Maduro's government and the opposition.

The Foreign Ministry said Venezuela must restore the conditions to keep developing in a peaceful environment for the best interests of all. “The Brazilian government urges all Venezuelan political actors, and the social forces supporting them, to abstain from every act that may jeopardize this much-desired dialogue,” the ministry said in its note.

Translated by Mayra Borges