CITY OF PANAMA- The Organization of American States’ (OAS) rejection of a resolution calling for transparency from the Venezuelan regime regarding the elections is “depressing,” Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino said on Thursday.
“What happened yesterday in Washington, at the OAS, is more than sad, it is depressing,” Mulino said at a press conference.
“I hope that this issue will not be exhausted in that sad and famous meeting yesterday in Washington that has stained the annals of this failed Latin American entity black, staining it even blacker than the OAS already was,” he added.
“Transparency”
The Permanent Council of the OAS on Wednesday rejected a resolution demanding transparency from Venezuela’s pro-government authorities regarding Sunday’s disputed elections that gave the supposed “victory to Nicolás Maduro” by failing to achieve an absolute majority of its member states.
Panama, which does not recognize Maduro’s victory, voted to approve a resolution that received 17 votes in favor, zero against and 11 abstentions. Five countries, including Venezuela, rejected the call.
“What happened in Venezuela is simply unacceptable, but even more unacceptable is the disdain of a sector of the international community that turned its back on absurd and stupid arguments without any coherent system of support for the norms of public international law,” said Mulino.
“Suspension of flights”
Along with diplomatic ties, commercial flights between Panama and Venezuela were also suspended this week.
Mulino banned flights between the two countries on Tuesday, a day after the Venezuelan regime did so, affecting Panamanian companies such as the Copa airline and the Colon Free Zone, the largest free trade zone in Latin America.
“No one enters or leaves Venezuela (on Panamanian planes) until the situation improves in that country. And I am very sorry for the business, I am very sorry for the companies, the businessmen of the Free Zone, etc., but principles cannot be sold or compromised,” said Mulino.
Among the countries that voted in favor of the resolution at the OAS were Argentina, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, the United States, Guatemala, Peru and Uruguay.
Bolivia, Brazil and Colombia, among others, abstained, while Mexico and Venezuela did not attend the meeting.
Source: With information from AFP
