Pat Breen
Question:189 Mr. P. Breen asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if the EU Council of Ministers, GAERC, has considered the current situation in Venezuela; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6539/03]
Written Answers - Human Rights Abuses.
Trevor Sargent
Question:196 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the Government's policy towards the political crisis in Venezuela; if the Government has had recent contacts with Venezuelan President Chavez; if the EU has a policy regarding the crisis in Venezuela; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6532/03]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 189 and 196 together.
The current situation in Venezuela must be seen against the background of the socio-economic realities of the country. Venezuela is an oil rich nation where 66% of the people live below the poverty line and a further 21% exist in abject destitution without the basic necessities of life.
By 1998, notwithstanding the country's immense oil and other mineral wealth, 67% of Venezuelans were living on less than $2 a day.
In the Presidential elections of December 1998 a former army officer, Hugo Chávez, who had served a prison term for his part in an attempted coup in 1992, was swept to power with the largest majority in the country's democratic history.
In April 2002, a coup was mounted against President Chávez by elements in the main business federation and the oil industry trade union. However, he was returned to office within 48 hours.
Since that brief rupture of the constitutional order Ireland, and its EU partners, have supported efforts by the Organisation of American States, the United Nations Development Programme, and the Carter Centre to facilitate dialogue between the Government and the opposition alliance known as the Democratic Co-ordinator. This is based on OAS Resolution 833 of 2 December 2002 which calls for a constitutional, democratic, peaceful and electoral solution, which was also supported by President Carter.
On 15 January the organisation called the Group of Friends of Venezuela, composed of the Foreign Ministers of Brazil, Chile, Mexico, Portugal, Spain and the United States, was formed to support the OAS in its mission.
The conciliation efforts of the OAS and the group of friends were complicated by the general strike organised by the DC opposition with the avowed aim of forcing President Chávez from office.
Following the ending of the 63 day general strike, which caused great economic damage including to the crucial oil sector, President Chávez and the DC opposition on 18 February agreed a "Declaration against violence and in favour of peace and democracy", under the auspices of the OAS.
Throughout the crisis Ireland and its EU partners have supported the efforts of the OAS – and more recently the group of friends organisation – as the main interface between the international community and Venezuela in dealing with the problems that beset that country. We have stressed the importance of cultivating the necessary spirit of tolerance in order to create a climate of reconciliation among the people of Venezuela.
Ireland and the EU are ready to respond to any recommendation which may be made by our partners, Portugal and Spain, and the other members of the Group of Friends of Venezuela.
Question No. 190 answered with Question No. 147.
Question No. 191 answered with Question No. 131.