Latin America defends return of democracy in Venezuela

During an official dinner with United States President Donald Trump, Heads of State and Government of Latin American countries defended the return of democracy in Venezuela. "In the opinion of all the participants of the dinner, it is necessary that there be a democratic solution in Venezuela soon," said President Michel Temer.

After landing in New York, Temer attended a dinner with Donald Trump and presidents of other Latin American countries, including Colombia, Panama and Peru. Last month, Venezuela was suspended from the Mercosur because of violations to the democratic order.

"It is necessary that there be a democratic solution in Venezuela soon. I relayed [to the dinner participants] that I received Leopoldo Lopes [Venezuelan opposition leader] to reinforce Brazil's position on Venezuela,” Temer told reporters after the meeting.

According to the president, the authorities agreed that the way out of the crisis must be through dialogue. "[The countries want the] manifestations of support to expand, that they come from the countries that are here, from the countries of Latin America, from the Caribbean countries, so as to put pressure for a democratic solution in Venezuela," he said.

Over dinner, Donald Trump said he was "lucky" that the United States have strong allies in the task of fully restoring democracy and freedom in Venezuela. He anticipated that, if the Venezuelan government insists on the current path, new measures will be taken to hold the Nicolás Maduro regime accountable.

On Tuesday (19), Temer will give the speech that opens the debates of the 72nd United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), a traditional role of the Brazilian Head of State since 1947. A meeting with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is also in the agenda.