(Washington) The United States supports a draft resolution that condemns the government of Daniel Ortega in Nicaragua and calls for the release of those detained in Cuba and Venezuela, Secretary of State Antony Blinken told the assembly on Thursday. general meeting of the Organization of American States (OAS) which is held virtually in Guatemala.
“We supported a resolution condemning the government of (Daniel) Ortega at this general assembly,” Blinken said, reacting to the re-election of President Ortega on Sunday in a private opposition ballot, following the imprisonment or exile of its main political rivals.
The draft resolution, launched on Wednesday by eight countries in the region, including the United States, asks the OAS Permanent Council to conduct “an immediate collective assessment. […] no later than November 30 and take the appropriate measures ”.
According to article 21 of the Inter-American Democratic Charter of the OAS, a member state can be suspended in the event of an “unconstitutional interruption of the democratic order” following which “diplomatic representations have proved unsuccessful”.
“We must respect this charter,” insisted Mr. Blinken.
The Secretary of State also referred to the situation in Cuba, where a demonstration planned for November 15 by the opposition to demand the release of political prisoners has been banned by the government. He also demanded that Venezuela release “all US nationals illegally detained”.