For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
December 13, 2002
Statement by the Press Secretary
U.S. Reaffirms Support for OAS Secretary General's Efforts in Venezuela
and Calls for Early Elections
The United States is deeply concerned about the deteriorating situation in Venezuela. In the past week the shooting of
peaceful demonstrators, attacks on television, radio, and newspaper media outlets and disruptions to the Venezuelan
economy have created a grave situation. These events have caused great pain and hardship in Venezuela. The Venezuelan
people deserve better.
The United States calls on all sides to reject violence and intimidation, and to act responsibly. We urge a peaceful,
democratic, constitutional, and politically viable electoral solution to Venezuela's crisis. We reaffirm our support for
OAS Secretary General Cesar Gaviria's efforts in Caracas to facilitate such an outcome. Secretary General Gaviria has
strong hemispheric support for the dialogue and mediation process that he is chairing, evidenced by the many expressions
of support from hemispheric leaders. The United States is actively engaged, working with the OAS and with hemispheric
leaders, to help achieve these objectives.
We note the Secretary General's recent public warning on the need to negotiate soon, in the next few days, or risk
further polarization that could erupt into violence. We echo the Secretary General, and call on all sides to redouble
their commitment to this dialogue and to national reconciliation. We also urge the Government of Venezuela to exercise
its constitutional responsibility to respect individual rights and fundamental freedoms, and to adhere to the
Inter-American Democratic Charter.
While the hemispheric community and other friends will do all they can to help, only Venezuelans themselves can resolve
their own problems. The United States is convinced that the only peaceful and politically viable path to moving out of
the crisis is through the holding of early elections.