The US ambassador to the OAS, Francisco Mora, asked the organization to raise its voice and take action in defense of democracy. He asked to put pressure on Nicaragua, Venezuela and Cuba so that the countries return to the democratic path. Regarding Venezuela, he expressed that his country will make the president Nicolás Maduro “accountable”
Francisco Mora, the new ambassador of the United States (USA) to the Organization of American States (OAS), requested on Wednesday, January 18, that regional instance to maintain the “pressure” on Nicaragua, Cuba and Venezuela in order to ensure that in these countries a return to democracy.
This was stated by Mora during his first speech at the OAS Permanent Council, where he stated that it is essential to raise one’s voice and defend democracy, since in his opinion one cannot remain silent when a government “silences the opposition and intimidates to civil society”.
Regarding Venezuela, the US ambassador assured that his country will hold President Nicolás Maduro “to account for his atrocities,” while demanding that Venezuelans be able to elect their leaders without being repressed.
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Regarding Nicaragua, he urged the Daniel Ortega administration to immediately release the political prisoners and said that the OAS must continue working to get that government to choose more democratic paths.
Mora, who declared himself a “proudly Cuban-American,” also raised his voice against the Havana government, which he accused of “harassing and detaining peaceful protesters, journalists, and independent voices.”
Francisco Mora was ratified in December by the US Senate as permanent representative to the OAS, a position that had been vacant since the president of that country, Joe Biden, took office in 2021.
For several months now, some countries have questioned the existence of the OAS –among them Venezuela– and advocated its elimination to make way for other organizations such as the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States, Celac.
In this sense, the US diplomat claimed that “multilateral institutions are essential” for the region.
With information from Swiss Info
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