TWENTY-NINTH SPECIAL SESSION OEA/Ser.P

April 18, 2002 AG/RES. 1 (XXIX-E/02)

Washington, D.C. 18 April 2002

Original: Spanish

AG/RES. 1 (XXIX-E/02)

SUPPORT FOR DEMOCRACY IN VENEZUELA

(Resolution adopted at the first plenary session, subject to review by the Style Committee)

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY,

CONSIDERING that, pursuant to Article 20 of the Inter-American Democratic Charter and after analyzing the situation in the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, the Permanent Council adopted resolution CP/RES. 811 (1315/02) and decided to convene a special session of the General Assembly;

TAKING INTO ACCOUNT that the Inter-American Democratic Charter recognizes as essential elements of representative democracy, inter alia, respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, access to and the exercise of power in accordance with the rule of law, the holding of periodic, free, and fair elections based on secret balloting and universal suffrage as an expression of the sovereignty of the people, the pluralistic system of political parties and organizations, and the separation of powers and independence of the branches of government; and

BEARING IN MIND the report submitted by the Secretary General of the OAS on the mission to Venezuela that the Permanent Council instructed him to carry out in order to investigate the facts and take the necessary diplomatic steps,

RESOLVES:

1. To express satisfaction at the restoration of the constitutional order and the democratically elected government of President Hugo Chávez Frías in the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.

2. To express the determination of the member states to continue applying, without distinction, and in strict accordance with the letter and spirit of the Inter-American Democratic Charter, the mechanisms provided for therein for the preservation and defense of representative democracy, reiterating their rejection of the use of violence to replace any democratic government in the Hemisphere.

3. To support the initiative of the Government of Venezuela to convoke immediately a national, all-inclusive dialogue, and to urge all sectors of Venezuelan society to participate and devote their best and most determined efforts to bringing about the full exercise of democracy in Venezuela, abiding fully by the Constitution and taking into account the essential elements of representative democracy set forth in Articles 3 and 4 of the Inter-American Democratic Charter.

4. To encourage the Government of Venezuela in its expressed resolve to fully observe and adhere to the essential elements and components of representative democracy, as stipulated in Articles 3 and 4 of the Inter-American Democratic Charter.

5. To encourage the Government and all social sectors and institutions in Venezuela to pursue their activities in accordance with the rule of law and to seek national reconciliation.

6. To express satisfaction at the acceptance by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights of the invitation from the Government of Venezuela in September 1999 to conduct an on-site visit to Venezuela, which will take place in the first week of May 2002.

7. To provide the support and help of the OAS as required by the Government of Venezuela for the consolidation of the democratic process.

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8. To instruct the Permanent Council of the Organization to present a comprehensive report on the situation in Venezuela to the General Assembly at its next regular session.