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INSULZA MEETS WITH MEMBER OF VENEZUELAN OPPOSITION

  June 23, 2009

The Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS), José Miguel Insulza, met today at the OAS Headquarters with the Mayor of the Metropolitan District of Caracas, Antonio Ledezma, who requested the meeting to discuss the political and administrative situation of the aforementioned city.

Mr. Insulza listened to the Venezuelan politician, who mentioned issues of institutional character and some others related to Human Rights.

The maximum representative of the OAS highlighted that the hemispheric institution cannot and should not be involved in issues of internal order of Member States, and clarified that the passing by the Constitutional Assembly of a law creating the Capital District is a sovereign decision of the Venezuelan legislative power. “This matter is the exclusive responsibility of the Venezuelan legislative power, which our institution should not interfere with,” said Mr. Insulza.


The OAS Secretary General called on all Venezuelan political stakeholders to engage in dialogue, and expressed his hope that “Government and opposition will decide to open themselves to dialogue, which is the appropriate action in a modern democracy.”

Mayor Ledezma assured Mr. Insulza that all his political activities as a member of the opposition to the Government of President Hugo Chávez will respect the framework of the Venezuelan Constitution. “All within the Constitution, nothing outside of it,” he said.

Reference: E-204/09