Rousseff rejects sanctions against Venezuela
Second summit of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) and the European Union in Brussels, Belgium
President Dilma Rousseff said Wednesday (June 10) during the second summit of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) and the European Union in Brussels, Belgium, that the Latin American countries “reject” any sanctions against Venezuela.
“We don't accept one-sided measures, putschism, or embargoes. We know that these measures are counterproductive, ineffective, and unfair. So we reject all kinds of sanctions against Venezuela. UNASUR is working hard to foster political dialogue in Venezuela, ensuring that everyone fully respects the democratic rule of law and the Constitution.”
The president had addressed the issue on Tuesday (9), in an interview to German media company Deutsche Welle, stressing that she does not consider “turning its back” on Venezuela, and mentioned the example of Cuba. She said she does not support “interference with neighboring countries.” “I think that many people would like to see us turn our backs on Venezuela, like we did with Cuba for so long. With Cuba, we always refused. We are a fundamentally pacifist country. To paint Venezuela as a threat to the USA won't help strengthen democracy there.”
In the interview, Rousseff referred to the pressure that she has been facing from sectors of the society in the wake of the corruption scandal at Petrobras, involving the governing coalition parties – PT, PMDB and PP, as “meaningless burden”. She again emphasized that Brazil has been investigating corruption scandals more than it has in the past.
“That burden is meaningless compared to the fact that I can guarantee that things have changed regarding corruption in Brazil. People were never jailed for being involved in corruption before,” she said.
Translated by Mayra Borges
Fonte: Rousseff rejects sanctions against Venezuela
