Americas bloc, ex-presidents meet on Venezuela crisis

By Maria Paz Salas

SANTIAGO, Chile (AA) – The Organization of American States (OAS) is meeting Tuesday in a special session to discuss the crisis in Venezuela.

The special meeting comes just two days before the Washington-based organization decides whether to suspend Venezuela from the regional bloc.

A group of former president, including Leonel Fernandez of the Dominican Republic and Martin Torrijos of Panama and Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero of Spain are attempting to mediate talks in Venezuela between the government and a coalition of opposition lawmakers.

Zapatero is leading the mediation mission sponsored by another regional bloc, the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR) and, was invited to serve as a spokesman at the special OAS meeting being held in Washington.

The three former presidents have been meeting with members of the government of the Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and opposition leaders amid political and economic upheaval that has seen opposing lawmakers launch a recall referendum against Maduro.

“The dialogue has to address the conflicts and controversies between powers and institutions. The democratic institutionalism is the key to the order, the coexistence and the judicial security,” Zapatero said in a statement.

The OAS on Thursday will discuss if to apply its Democratic Charter against the South American country -- a measure that could lead to Venezuela’s suspension from the group.

Ambassadors from the 34-member countries will vote on the measure launched by OAS chief Luis Almagro after complaints by Venezuelan opposition lawmakers.

Representatives of the Venezuelan government and the opposition met in late May, with the help of the former presidents, in an attempt to start negotiations.