CP/RES. 811 (1315/02)

SITUATION IN VENEZUELA

THE PERMANENT COUNCIL OF THE ORGANIZATION OF AMERICAN STATES,

CONSIDERING that the Charter of the Organization of American States recognizes that representative democracy is indispensable for the stability, peace, and development of the region, and that one of the purposes of the OAS is to promote and consolidate representative democracy, with due respect for the principle of nonintervention;

REAFFIRMING the right of the peoples of the Americas to democracy and the obligation of governments to promote and defend it;

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;

REITERATING that transparency in government activities, probity, responsible public administration on the part of governments, respect for social rights, and freedom of expression and of the press are essential components of the exercise of democracy; and that the constitutional subordination of all state institutions to the legally constituted civilian authority and respect for the rule of law on the part of all institutions and sector of society are equally essential to democracy;

BEARING IN MIND the deterioration of the institutional order and of the democratic process in Venezuela; and

CONSIDERING that an alteration of the constitutional regime has occurred in Venezuela, which seriously impairs the democratic order and justifies the application of the mechanisms provided for in Article 20 of the Inter-American Democratic Charter,

RESOLVES:

1.       To condemn the alteration of constitutional order in Venezuela.

2.       To condemn the deplorable acts of violence that have led to the loss of human life.

3.       To express solidarity with the people of Venezuela, and support their resolve to re-establish full democracy, with guarantees for citizens and respect for fundamental freedoms, within the framework of the Inter-American Democratic Charter.

4.       To call for the normalization of the democratic institutional framework in Venezuela within the context of the Inter-American Democratic Charter.

5.      To send to Venezuela, as a matter of urgency, a Mission headed by the Secretary General of the OAS, with the aim of carrying out a fact-finding mission and undertaking the necessary  diplomatic initiatives, including good offices, to promote as quickly as possible the normalization of the democratic institutional framework.  The Permanent Council shall be kept informed of the initiatives taken.

6.   To convoke in accordance with Article 20, third paragraph, of the Inter-American Democratic Charter, a special session of the General Assembly, to be held at OAS headquarters, on Thursday, April 18, 2002, to receive the report of the Secretary General and to adopt such decisions as it may deem appropriate.

7.    To continue to consider this matter.