Bolivia Cancels OAS meeting on Venezuela and 18 Countries Protest
HAVANA TIMES – A group of 18 countries today protested the decision of Bolivia, the current president of the Permanent Council of the Organization of American States (OAS), to suspend the extraordinary meeting convened to address the Venezuelan crisis without consulting the rest of the Member States, reported dpa.
The 18 delegations sent a note in which they expressed their “strong protest” for the suspension of the session set for Monday and requested its rescheduling.
“We note that, in accordance with Article 37 of the Rules of Procedure of the Permanent Council, the Chair cannot suspend a meeting without prior consultation or explanation,” notes the protesting countries.
The 18 delegations – including Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, the United States, Mexico, Peru, Paraguay and Uruguay – requested the Chair of the Permanent Council to reconvene the meeting as a courtesy to the Argentine Foreign Minister Susana Malcorra, who is in Washington, and whose country holds the pro tempore presidency of Mercosur.
The permanent Bolivian ambassador to the OAS, Diego Pary, suspended the meeting today without consulting the rest of delegations, something unusual, according to diplomatic sources. Generally, the President of the Council, a rotating post that Bolivia took on April 1st, heed the requests of the Member States.
The meeting was expected to vote on a draft resolution in which member states would express their “deep concern about the serious institutional deterioration of the democratic order” in Venezuela and their “continued support for dialogue and negotiation to bring about a Peaceful restoration of the democratic order “.
Bolivia, along with Nicaragua often supports Venezuela’s positions at OAS meetings.
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LATE NEWS: OAS Session Underway
The meeting of the Permanent Council of the Organization of American States (OAS) to analyze the crisis situation in Venezuela finally took place Monday despite the obstacles put forth by Bolivia, reported dpa.
“I open the session of the Permanent Council,” announced the Honduran ambassador Leonicas Rosa Bautista, who took over the reigns of the session due to her being the longest standing ambassador.
After Bolivian ambassador Diego Pary suspended the meeting set for the morning without consultation of the 35 Member States, 20 countries mounted a protest which led to the session being convened.
Hard to understand why Venezuela is so concerned with the OAS or is still even a member of this demoralized, good for nothing organization.
I may not agree with many things that are happening in Venezuela, but this Bought and Paid for wishy-washy institution, that never said a word against the reign of terror of Pinochet, Somoza, Rojas Pinillas, Videla, Papa Doc, Trujillo, Batista and who disgracefully kicked-out Cuba to allay the conditions for the Bay of Pigs?
Nor did the OAS open its foul mouth when the government of Arbenz in Guatemala was overthrown and Aristide was kidnapped out of Haiti by the United States government.
For better or for worse, Cuba have lived half a century without the OAS and others can!
Apparently Bolivia follows the same version of democracy that Venezuela follows. A country (or organization) is allowed to have a free democracy and vote, as long as they agree with the president of the country (organization). Cuba and all other dictatorships subscribe to that same democracy!