Lula and Maduro discussed elections in Venezuela, but did not talk about Essequibo, Planalto says | Policy

President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva (PT) and Venezuelan Prime Minister Nicolas Maduro spoke at a bilateral meeting on Friday (first) in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. According to the Brazilian government, the two leaders spoke about the Venezuelan elections scheduled for the second half of 2024, but did not address Maduro's dispute with Guyana over the Essequibo region.

The bilateral meeting took place on the sidelines of the eighth summit of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), in Kingstown, the capital of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira also participated in the meeting.

Lula is close to Maduro and wants to use this condition to influence the Venezuelan president to promote clean and transparent elections in the country. Maduro is the political heir to former President Hugo Chavez, who died in 2013, and has ruled Venezuela since then. International organizations attest that the Venezuelan elections that kept Maduro in power were not free, and they fear that this year's elections will follow the same fate.

The Itamaraty Palace seeks, through diplomatic means, to force Venezuela to adhere to the Barbados Agreement, which stipulates the holding of transparent elections in the country. According to analysts, the efforts of Lula and diplomats are unlikely to change Maduro's intentions. The opposition in the neighboring country denounced the restrictions imposed on electoral freedom.

“The Venezuelan leader said he reached a broad agreement with the opposition parties in his country’s National Assembly and confirmed that there will be international observers and audits to ensure the integrity of the elections,” Planalto said in a statement.

According to the Brazilian government, the conversation lasted just over an hour between Lula and Maduro.

Furthermore, Palacio do Planalto reported that Lula and Maduro discussed the economic context and bilateral trade between the two countries, and also discussed partnerships to reduce illegal mining in border areas, especially in Yanomami indigenous lands, which cover areas in both countries. .

According to Planalto, cooperation is important because criminals often cross borders to escape police forces.

According to Planalto, Lula and Maduro did not address the crisis between Venezuela and Guyana over the Essequibo region. Last year, Venezuela once again claimed Essequibo as part of its territory, and today the area belongs to Guyana's territory.

According to the Brazilian government, Lula stated that, as happened on Thursday (29), in the bilateral meeting with President Irfaan Ali, President of Guyana, the Essequibo issue was not discussed in the bilateral meeting with Maduro.

“The Brazilian President already expressed on Thursday the possibility of discussing the topic later, in a more appropriate forum, and that Brazil will always be available to contribute to the perspective of promoting and maintaining peace on the continent,” Planalto’s statement said. .

Conversation with the President of Bolivia

Also on Friday, Lula met bilaterally with Bolivia's President Luis Arce. According to the Brazilian government, the two leaders discussed the possibility of Petrobras investing in natural gas exploration in Bolivian territory.

Furthermore, they spoke of Bolivia's interest in partnering with Brazil for potential lithium exploration, as the South American country has one of the largest certified lithium reserves in the world, at around 23 million tons.

Also according to Planalto, Lula and Arce also handled infrastructure work for the integration between the two countries, such as the construction of the bridge that will connect Guajara-Merim (RO), in Brazil, to Guayaramerín, in Bolivia, which is expected to be completed. In 2027.

The two presidents also discussed the Ichillo-Mamore Waterway, which provides a more advantageous route for Bolivia to export products to Europe and which passes through the Brazilian Amazon.