Photo: Lula Marques/ Agência Brasil
Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira (photo) said he believes in the words of Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro about the supposed holding of clean elections in the country in 2024.
“We are working with this goal,” the Brazilian Chancellor responded to a question about Maduro’s promise of clean elections in an interview with Metrópoles published this Tuesday, December 26.
So far, Maduro has not presented a concrete proposal to make the election, which will take place in the second half of the year, more transparent.
“According to Venezuelan law, they must be set and the date must be officially announced six months in advance. We are working towards this goal,” explained Mauro Vieira.
“There was a major agreement between the government and the opposition that was signed in Barbados two or three months ago. “Everything is going well,” he added.
Regarding the agreement signed in Barbados in the Caribbean, the minister referred to a document that the Maduro regime and the opposition signed under US mediation in October.
The agreement eased American sanctions against the dictatorship but contained no guarantees for clean elections in 2024.
Mauro Vieira also commented on the meeting between Maduro and Guyana President Irfaan Ali on December 14 in St. Vincent and the Grenadines regarding the Essequibo territorial dispute.
Once again, the Brazilian chancellor showed optimism and naivety about the Venezuelan dictator's intentions.
“It was a very important step because it is the beginning of a dialogue. There must be others, in principle another meeting is already planned, that will help find solutions to the bilateral issue,” said Mauro Vieira.
Milei
The Brazilian Chancellor also commented on Brazil's relations with Argentina, which has had a new president, Javier Milei, since December 10.
Mauro Vieira spoke about his meeting with Milei at the inauguration ceremony.
“We had a short but very warm conversation in which he also said that Argentina's relations with Brazil are very important and fundamental and that he wants to maintain these relations at the highest level with full understanding and transparency on both sides. “Because it is crucial for Argentina and Brazil to have a good relationship,” said the Brazilian Chancellor.
When asked about the first facetoface meeting between Lula and Milei, Mauro Vieira only said: “They will meet when they both go to the Mercosur summit in Asunción at the end of June, where Paraguay currently holds the presidency.” It could be earlier, it It depends, meetings between heads of state are always negotiated and agreed upon in advance, it never comes down to a casual thing.”