Brazil chancellor talks Venezuela at OAS and US Congress
Brazilian Foreign Minister Ernesto Araújo talked Wednesday (Feb. 6) with Organization of American States (OAS) Secretary-General Luis Almagro and designated Venezuelan Ambassador to Brazil María Teresa Belandria. On the agenda was the aggravation of the crisis in Venezuela amid the impasse deepening humanitarian issues in the region.
The topic was also discussed at the US Congress meeting attended by chancellor. Araújo said that both Almagro and US Congress members have concerns similar to those of Brazil over Venezuela, adding that there is “interest in contributing to a democratic transition” in the neighboring country.
The chancellor ruled out possible talks with President Nicolás Maduro’s administration, as brought forward by the Contact Group, comprising European countries, Mexico, Uruguay, and other countries, which stands in opposition to the stance adopted by the Lima Group, which supports the interim government of Juan Guaidó and criticizes the current administration.
“If the legitimate government is not represented, I don’t see this process as useful,” the chancellor said. On his Twitter account, Almagro reiterated Araújo’s view. “Today we talked with Brazil’s Chancellor Ernesto Araújo about the situation in Venezuela—the support for Juan Guaidó and our rejection of another false dialog which only adds fuel to the dictatorship,” he said.
New representative
At the Brazilian Embassy in Washington today, the foreign minister welcomed María Teresa Belandria, Venezuela’s representative for Brazil designated by interim President Juan Guaidó. “She has high expectations about going to Brazil; it’ll be important for us to become familiar with the vision of the Juan Guaidó government,” Araújo pointed out.
The future ambassador said that one of Guaidó’s concerns relates to how the devastation of the environment is being brought about in Venezuela's Amazon region in Venezuela.
On her Twitter page, María Teresa introduces herself as a lawyer with a PhD in Political Sciences as well as an International Public Law and Arts.
