Original: Spanish
The Socialist International Committee for Latin America and the Caribbean, meeting in Santo Domingo on 3-4 November 2017, makes the following appeal to the government of Venezuela in order to find a solution to the political crisis:
1. To immediately release the political prisoners and ensure the respect to the human rights of all Venezuelan to create the conditions for finding ways that lead to a satisfactory solution of the political crisis;
To respect the National Assembly and all its members in the performance of their duties. To respect the separation of powers established in the Constitution, the Rule of Law and the democratic principles;
To ensure that the presidential elections due in 2018 are free and fair, under the direction of an electoral authority that guarantees its full credibility, together with effective international observers. The legitimacy and independence of the electoral authority are essential elements to express and respect the sovereign will of the Venezuelan people;
The Committee offers its full support to President Danilo Medina and to the Minister of Foreign Affairs Miguel Vargas in their efforts in favour of peace in Venezuela by means of a process of dialogue between the government and the opposition in that country which will allow a democratic, peaceful and definitive outcome.
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