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OAS ADOPTS RESOLUTION ON THE RESULTS OF THE VENEZUELAN REFERENDUM

  August 26, 2004

The member countries of the Organization of American States (OAS) today called for a process of reconciliation in Venezuela, in adherence to the principles of that country’s Constitution and the Inter-American Democratic Charter, “with the participation of all sectors of Venezuelan public life, in which differences are settled in the framework of the democratic system and in a spirit of transparency, pluralism and tolerance.”

The resolution, which the OAS Permanent Council adopted unanimously, welcomes President Hugo Chávez’s offer to foster national dialogue. It calls upon all players to respect the results of the presidential recall referendum, issued by the National Electoral Council and endorsed by the OAS Electoral Observation Mission, the Carter Center and other international observers.

The resolution gives recognition to Venezuela’s people and democratic political institutions for the “public spirit” they demonstrated in the referendum process and to President Chávez for having achieved a successful ratification of his term of office. It also urges all sectors of society “to refrain from promoting violence and intolerance, in order to facilitate the necessary quest for national reconciliation.”

Reference: E-138/04