Brazil’s Temer Calls for Diplomatic Solution in Venezuela

By Lise Alves, Senior Contributing Reporter

SÃO PAULO, BRAZIL – Despite the calls from U.S. President Donald Trump for further action to re-establish democracy in Venezuela, Brazilian President, Michel Temer said on Monday that Brazil looks towards a diplomatic solution to the crisis faced by its Latin American neighbor.

President Temer joined other Latin American leaders on the eve of the start of the United Nation’s annual meeting for a dinner with U.S. leader.

“People want democracy to be established there, they do not want external intervention, of course,” President Temer told journalists after dinner in New York.

Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos reiterated President Temer’s view, according to Agencia EFE, telling the U.S. leader that Latin America would not support any kind of military intervention in Venezuela.

According to the Brazilian president, although no decision was taken during the dinner, Latin American leaders are concerned with the increasing problem of Venezuelan refugees. “We have more than 30,000 (Venezuelan) refugees in Brazil, thousands of refugees in Colombia and some in Panama, “he said.

“Our greatest interest is to defend the Venezuelan people, that their rights be respected, that democracy be restored,” said President Temer, adding, “We discussed the need to coordinate (a way) to try to produce a transition that is peaceful, democratic, and that maintains stability.”

During his speech to Latin American guests, President Trump said that the current situation in Venezuela is ‘completely unacceptable’ and demanded a full restoration of democracy and political freedoms in Venezuela. “I ask the countries represented here to be prepared to do more to address this unbelievably serious crisis,” Trump told his guests.

In addition to President Temer, the presidents of Colombia, Juan Manuel Santos, and Panama, Juan Carlos Varela, as well as the Vice President of Argentina, Gabriela Michetti attended the dinner.

As is tradition, Brazil’s President gives the opening speech at the annual United Nation’s Conference in New York on Tuesday. President Temer is expected to discuss sustainable development goals and the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, expected to be ratified by twenty six countries, including Brazil, on Wednesday.