EEUU califica a gobierno de Maduro de dictadura: No descartan prohibición de importación de crudo venezolano
Jul 18, 2017 5:05 pm
Voceros del Departamento de Estado, en conferencia telefónica con la prensa, adelantaron que las acciones que tomará EEUU “serán muy duras” y que trabajan de manera “multilateral” con “socios de la región, Europa y Asia” con el objetivo de “presionar” al chavismo.
Infobae
De hecho, afirmaron que podrían anunciarlas antes del 30 de julio, jornada en que el régimen convocó a una elección constituyente que la oposición y la comunidad internacional rechazaron.
“El presidente Trump está muy preocupado por el bienestar de los venezolanos y nos instruyó para que hagamos todo lo que esté a nuestro alcance para restablecer la democracia en Venezuela”, afirmaron en la rueda con medios nacionales e internacionales. Para el departamento de Estado, el gobierno de Maduro “es una dictadura que destruyó el país, con corrupción y narcotráfico”.
Una de las versiones que circulan desde ayer es la posible sanción de dos hombres fuertes del chavismo: el ministro de Defensa, Vladimir Padrino López y del vicepresidente del partido de gobierno PSUV, Diosdado Cabello. Ambas figuras tienen mucho poder en el país caribeño.
Sin embargo, desde el departamento de Estado no quisieron confirmar ni negar los nombres pero cuando Infobae le consultó sobre si en el listado de penalizados, además de funcionarios chavistas podría haber empresas relacionadas con el gobierno,
como la estatal petrolera PDVSA, no lo descartaron. Es más, revelaron que analizan la posibilidad de prohibir el crudo venezolano como parte de las sanciones. “Nada está fuera de la mesa”, insistieron.
En inglés: Ronda de preguntas y respuestas:
Nothing official to announce but sanctions may come soon (either before or after July 30)
– Whatever actions are taken will be “strong, swift and deliberate” and officials said “all options are on the table”
– But no specifics offered on potential names, entities or organizations (though the lists are “robust”)
– Working multilaterally with partners in the region
– U.S. not taking position on Maduro
– Aware of American detained there (Joshua Holt) but that is not impacting timing or actions, per the officials
– Not looking at granting Venezuelans temporary asylum at this time
ROUGH LOG:
15:35:12 Q: CONVO WITH PRESIDENT CASTRO. US PART OF THIS EFFORT TOO. AGREE WITH THIS VERSION?
15:36:27 Working with all partners in the region, working multilaterally
15:36:41 All over the world, actions we announced, coordination, partnership
15:36:56 Colombia, President Santos, played key role
15:37:16 AP Q: POTENTIAL SANCTIONS. LIMITED IN WHAT YOU CAN TALK ABOUT. GIVE US AN IDEA. POTENTIAL CONSEQUENCES.
15:37:51 Absolutely, thank you, as president said yesterday, reaction (audio cuts out)
15:38:29 We’re not gonna preview exactly what we’re gonna say or do but are prepared to follow up on strong economic actions
15:38:45 BLOOMBERG Q: TALK ABOUT IDEA BEHIND THE POTENTIAL SANCTIONS? SOME CONCERN ON SANCTIONS ABOUT INDIVS?
15:40:33 As far as Q goes, options looking at, going to be made in a deliberate manner
15:40:41 Understand we are dealing with options that sometimes have consequences in Venezuela but also US
15:40:52 Make these decisions deliberately after having well thought out debates here
15:41:01 Mindful of our foreign policy objectives
15:41:07 So we will continue, as far as whether we’re looking beyond targeted sanctions, absolutely
15:41:19 President told us to consider all options, all options on table
15:41:30 Whatever actions we chose to take after July 30, will be strong, swift and deliberate***
15:41:40 BLOOMBERG FOLO Q: BANNING OIL IMPORTS?
15:41:46 All options are on the table
15:41:52 Q: TYPE OF SANCTIONS?
15:42:32 On first Q, not going to comment on any specific names of individuals that many or may not be on any of our lists
15:42:44 Our lists are robust, our actions are robust
15:42:49 Go through and make decisions on desired effect, restore country to full democracy they seek
15:43:03 As far as any kind of off-ramp negotiations or decisions, not gonna comment on anything that’s happening in any classified manner
15:43:19 We welcome and hope for democracy to be restored in Venezuela as quickly as possible
15:43:31 Call on government to have free and fair election as soon as possible
15:43:41 FOLO Q: MADURO?
15:43:46 Again, U’S. isn’t taking position on exile of Maduro, leaving to Venezuela people through Democratic means what they want next
15:44:02 TIME Q: AMERICAN DETAINED THERE. CONSIDERED? RELATED TO TIMING?
15:44:34 So of course always on our minds here at WH
15:44:39 President Trump aware of his case, briefed on his case, concerned about Mr. Holt
15:44:51 Called on him to be released, so we reiterate that call of course
15:45:00 Our decision on sanctions, announcement have not been affected directly by any kind of timing in any other way by Mr. Holt
15:45:13 Mr. Holt’s case very troubling, over a year without any charges or due process
15:45:24 Reiterate calls for him to be released immediately
15:45:31 TIME FOLO: INDIRECTLY RELATED?
15:45:35 As far as the timing and the actions, they were not related to Mr. Holt’s case
15:45:47 CNN ESPANOL: ECONOMIC ACTIONS GOING TO BE TAKEN UNILATERAL OR COORDINATED EFFORT WITH OTHER COUNTRIES?
15:46:12 Thank you. We have been working multilaterally with countries throughout region, Asia even, on coordinated effort to make sure applying right amount of pressure
15:46:34 We see that as a very important step towards full dictatorship model seems to be striving for
15:46:47 Have certainly been coordinating with likeminded friends and allies around world
15:46:54 Having said that, US will take unilateral actions it deems to be fit in our nat sec interests
15:47:06 NBC Q: TEMPORARY ASYLUM TO VENEZUELAS FLEEING CRISIS?
15:47:40 That is not an option we’re looking at this moment but we will take into account the needs and assess the situation and make decision as needed
15:48:15 Q: HARD TO HEAR
15:49:07 Yes, we’ve certainly considered several factors behind several options discussing
15:49:16 Strong economic actions, we of course are mindful of importance of any impact it would have on American people, American jobs, American economy
15:49:31 Make tough decisions if forced to
15:49:40 Rest assured, we have info at our disposal, not shy away of having impacts as needed if it’s in our nat sec interest
15:50:10 Q: SPECIFIC NAME…
15:51:06 We’re not gonna preview any names or indivs that may or may not be on any lists
15:51:19 All options on table, have not made final decisions but have pretty good idea of direction we’re headed in
15:51:31 Not previewing any names, entities, organizations before we issue those decisions
15:51:55 FT Q: BEFORE JULY 30? CONVO WITH CHINESE?
15:52:12 First question, reserve right to make unilateral decisions at time and place of our choosing
15:52:26 Would not be surprised if we take action before July 30, very troubled and worried
15:52:34 President very concerned about wellbeing of Venezuelan people, erosion of democracy taking place over there, instructed us to do everything we can to try to help Venezuelan people to restore democracy to full democracy
15:52:59 Not going to get into any kind of private convos taking place between our countries but will say working multilateral to advance interests which we see as mutual
15:53:30 Q: POTUS GUIDING PRINCIPLE WHEN IT COMES TO MAKE DECISION LIKE THIS
15:54:11 Speak to VZ specifically, president sees it, particularly saddened by man made disaster, bad leader who is moving direction of becoming dictator
15:54:33 Used to be upper middle class country, resources and people, singlehandedly destroyed it through corruption, narco trafficking
15:54:50 President very troubled this and very troubled by suffering of Venezuelan people
15:55:59 CNN ESPANOL Q: EFFORTS UNDERMINE ANY KIND OF ACTIVITIES? STRATEGY IN PLACE FOR AFTER?
15:56:46 We absolutely have Holt in our mind at all time when it comes to Venezuela, president briefed on his case, frequently updated
15:57:04 Wants to see Mr. Holt back in US and have called for his release immediately on humanitarian grounds
15:57:15 As I said earlier, decision right now are not being impacted by Mr. Holt specifically, continue to work on case separately
15:57:39 Second Q, absolutely we have a strategy, working intently, very focused on Venezuela, asked us to update him frequently
15:57:56 Over a dozen calls with heads of state from across the region, topic of Venezuela has been raised, various readouts, continues to push on strategy in place, continues to shape it, moving in right direction, Venezuelan people
15:58:29 Robust, prosperous democracy, have that right, that is what we continue to call for at all times
