[rad-green] Press Release: U.S. Congress Announce s Bipartisan Endorsement of a Negotiated Solution to Venezuela ’s Crisis

*https://venezuelablog.org/congress-bipartisan-negotiated-solution-venezuela/
<https://venezuelablog.org/congress-bipartisan-negotiated-solution-venezuela/>*

*WOLA* <https://venezuelablog.org/author/wola/>
*          December 17, 2019*

Press Release: U.S. Congress Announces Bipartisan Endorsement of a
Negotiated Solution to Venezuela’s Crisis

Washington, D.C.—On December 16, bipartisan leaders in the U.S. Senate and
House of Representatives announced an appropriations deal that rejects the
use of force in Venezuela and endorses a negotiated solution to the
country’s crisis. The bill
<https://rules.house.gov/sites/democrats.rules.house.gov/files/BILLS-116HR1865SA-RCP116-44.PDF>,
which is expected to be signed by President Trump, establishes that “it is
the policy of the United States to support diplomatic engagement in order
to advance a negotiated and peaceful solution to Venezuela’s political,
economic, and humanitarian crisis.”

“This sends a clear message that Washington is finally recognizing the
reality: Venezuela’s crisis will be resolved through a combination of smart
engagement and multilateral, targeted diplomatic pressure,” said Geoff
Ramsey <https://www.wola.org/people/geoff-ramsey/>, Assistant Director for
Venezuela at the Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA). “Despite
differences in rhetoric, today both Republicans and Democrats understand
that the only way forward for Venezuela is through negotiations leading to
free and fair elections.”

The bill earmarks essential funding for Venezuela’s complex humanitarian
emergency, which has led over 4.7 million to flee the country in recent
years. The legislation allocates $400 million for humanitarian assistance
inside the country and for a stronger regional response to fleeing
Venezuelan refugees and migrants across the hemisphere. It also designates
$17.5 million for an Organization of American States (OAS) electoral
observation mission in Venezuela and to support civil society.

The appropriations bill also instructs the administration to develop a
strategy to coordinate with members of the Lima Group and the International
Contact Group
<https://www.wola.org/analysis/international-contact-group-venezuela-can-advance-path-crisis/>
in
diplomatic efforts, all while making clear that “direct, credible
negotiations […] represent the best opportunity to reach a solution to the
Venezuelan crisis.” The text explicitly states that it is not an
authorization of the use of military force.

“Fortunately, there is no appetite for a ‘military option’ for Venezuela,”
 said David Smilde <https://www.wola.org/people/david-smilde/>, WOLA Senior
Fellow for Venezuela. “Military intervention in Venezuela would be a
disaster for all. Even hollow threats of a military option do more to
divide the Venezuelan opposition than pressure the Maduro government. This
bill finally makes clear what has long been recognized in Washington, that
a negotiated political agreement is the only realistic way forward,” said
Smilde.

The bill includes a provision that prohibits adult relatives of sanctioned
individuals in the Venezuelan government⁠ from obtaining U.S. visas—and
requires the administration to submit a report on efforts to coordinate
sanctions against individuals with governments in Latin America and Europe.
As WOLA has noted, coordinated pressure is important, though this should
avoid aggravating the crisis
<https://www.wola.org/2019/08/walsh-briefing-humanitarian-impact-sanctions/> in
the same way that broader sectoral sanctions have done.

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