Lima Group Declaration

May 3, 2019

The governments of Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Panama, Paraguay, Peru and Venezuela, faced with the beginning of the decisive phase of the process to recover democracy and put an end to the usurpation of the presidency:

1. Reaffirm their full support for the actions undertaken during the last few days by the Venezuelan people under the leadership of interim President Juan Guaidó to peacefully restore the rule of law in the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, in accordance with constitutional order, and encourage him to persevere in this effort.
2. Strongly condemn the repression of the illegitimate and dictatorial regime of Nicolás Maduro, which has again caused many deaths and hundreds of wounded and detainees; deplore the appointment of Gustavo González López as the Head of the Bolivarian National Intelligence Service (SEBIN), who symbolizes the systematic violation of human rights perpetrated by the regime, adding to the alleged crimes against humanity presented for consideration to the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court.
3. Demand full respect for the life, physical integrity, and freedom of all Venezuelans, of interim President Juan Guaidó, as well as the re-establishment of the political and constitutional rights of the Vice President of the National Assembly, Edgar Zambrano, and all of its members, in addition to the immediate release of all political prisoners.
4. Call on the members of the Bolivarian National Armed Forces to comply with their constitutional mandate to serve their nation, and on the members of the Supreme Court of Justice to cease their complicit support for the illegitimate regime.
5. Agree to propose to the International Contact Group an urgent meeting of representatives of both groups to seek convergence on the common goal of achieving the return of democracy in Venezuela, and invite other members of the international community committed to that purpose to join efforts to achieve this objective.
6. Express their satisfaction with the decision to hold the International Conference for Democracy in Venezuela, in Lima, in July, with the participation of all states that support democratic recovery in that country.
7. Highlight Chile’s holding of a seminar on democratic transitions in June, with the participation of Venezuelan democratic leaders.
8. Urge the international community, the United Nations system, and its Secretary-General to take unequivocal measures of protection aimed at alleviating the consequences of the humanitarian crisis suffered by Venezuelans, for which the illegitimate regime of Nicolás Maduro is exclusively responsible.
9. Urge the international community and the United Nations system to increase cooperation with host countries to respond to the massive exodus of Venezuelans.
10. Reiterate their call to Russia, Türkiye and all countries that continue to support the illegitimate regime of Nicolás Maduro to support the process of democratic transition.
11.  Agree to undertake all necessary actions in order for Cuba to participate in the search for a solution to the Venezuelan crisis.
12. Decide to cooperate with international mechanisms to fight corruption, drug trafficking, money laundering, and other offences in order to combat the perpetration of these types of crimes by members of the illegitimate regime of Nicolás Maduro, his family members and his supporters.
13. Condemn the threat posed by the protection offered by the illegitimate regime of Nicolás Maduro to terrorist groups operating inside Colombian territory, as well as any attempt to destabilize Colombian institutions, to threaten the life and safety of President Iván Duque, or to undermine regional security.
14. Decide to remain in permanent session and to hold the next meeting in Guatemala City.
15. Encourage the Venezuelan people to persevere in their fight to recover democracy, and acknowledge the courage and patriotism of those members of the armed forces who have supported them in this decisive phase.