WEBVTT 00:00.528 --> 00:02.570 (mumbling) 00:02.570 --> 00:06.260 - The 8,506th meeting of the Security Council 00:06.260 --> 00:07.433 is called to order. 00:08.980 --> 00:12.070 The provisional agenda for this meeting is 00:12.070 --> 00:15.963 the situation in the Bolivarian republic of Venezuela. 00:16.970 --> 00:18.753 The agenda is adopted. 00:20.920 --> 00:24.040 In accordance with rule 37 of the council's 00:24.040 --> 00:26.180 provisional route of procedure, I invite 00:26.180 --> 00:29.090 the representative of the Bolivarian Republic 00:29.090 --> 00:31.743 of Venezuela to participate in this meeting. 00:33.360 --> 00:34.743 It is so decided. 00:36.380 --> 00:38.830 In accordance with rule 39 of the council's 00:38.830 --> 00:40.600 provisional route of procedure, 00:40.600 --> 00:42.730 I invite the following briefers to participate 00:42.730 --> 00:47.050 in this meeting: Mr Mark Lowcock, Undersecretary General 00:47.050 --> 00:51.063 for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, 00:52.560 --> 00:57.560 Mr Eduardo Stein, UNHCRIOM Joint Special Representative 00:57.710 --> 01:00.670 for Venezuelan Refugees and Migrants in the Region, 01:00.670 --> 01:05.080 and Miss Kathleen Page, researcher at 01:05.080 --> 01:07.033 John Hopkins University. 01:09.650 --> 01:11.233 It is so decided. 01:12.430 --> 01:16.210 Mr Stein is joining via video-teleconference 01:16.210 --> 01:17.883 from Panama City. 01:20.610 --> 01:24.440 I also wish to acknowledge and express 01:26.200 --> 01:29.370 our pleasure to have the Secretary General 01:30.440 --> 01:33.150 here today, Mr Antonio Guterres. 01:33.150 --> 01:36.653 Thank you very much for joining us, this morning. 01:38.531 --> 01:42.160 Security Council will now begin it's consideration 01:42.160 --> 01:45.060 of item two of the agenda, and I'll give 01:45.060 --> 01:47.643 the floor to Mr Mark Lowcock. 01:55.270 --> 01:58.040 - Thank you very much, Mr President. 01:58.040 --> 02:00.740 Let me be clear, from the outset, 02:00.740 --> 02:05.463 that there is a very real humanitarian problem in Venezuela. 02:06.500 --> 02:10.430 The United Nations is willing, and able, to respond, 02:10.430 --> 02:13.800 consistent with the long-standing mandate 02:13.800 --> 02:16.510 member-states have agreed, for principled 02:16.510 --> 02:18.083 humanitarian action. 02:19.030 --> 02:22.010 We can do more to relieve the suffering 02:22.010 --> 02:25.010 of the people of Venezuela, if we get more help 02:25.010 --> 02:27.303 and support from all stakeholders. 02:28.830 --> 02:31.270 Since Undersecretary General Rosemary DiCarlo 02:31.270 --> 02:33.870 last briefed you on 26th February, 02:33.870 --> 02:36.590 the humanitarian situation has worsened. 02:36.590 --> 02:39.060 Recurrent widespread power outages 02:39.060 --> 02:41.280 have affected the whole country. 02:41.280 --> 02:43.540 Without electricity from the grid, 02:43.540 --> 02:45.740 many hospitals have struggled to carry out 02:45.740 --> 02:49.350 essential surgical procedures, and to sustain 02:49.350 --> 02:52.873 intensive care services, and dialysis treatment. 02:53.760 --> 02:56.550 Water and sewage systems have been interrupted. 02:56.550 --> 02:58.870 Economic decline has continued, 02:58.870 --> 03:00.690 and the purchasing power of ordinary people 03:00.690 --> 03:03.630 has fallen further, rendering food 03:03.630 --> 03:06.977 even less affordable, for many families. 03:06.977 --> 03:08.030 (page turning) 03:08.030 --> 03:11.316 The scale of need is significant, and growing. 03:11.316 --> 03:13.560 The United Nations is working in Venezuela, 03:13.560 --> 03:16.730 to expand the provision of humanitarian assistance. 03:16.730 --> 03:20.960 Our efforts are in line with the humanitarian principles 03:20.960 --> 03:25.750 of humanity, neutrality, impartiality, and independence, 03:25.750 --> 03:28.580 as determined by the General Assembly in resolutions 03:28.580 --> 03:32.933 46182, and 58114. 03:34.330 --> 03:36.330 The Secretary General has expressed his concern 03:36.330 --> 03:38.300 for the people in Venezuela. 03:38.300 --> 03:40.210 I echo that concern. 03:40.210 --> 03:43.160 I'll focus my briefing today on, first, 03:43.160 --> 03:47.690 the priority humanitarian needs in Venezuela, 03:47.690 --> 03:52.330 second, our efforts to assist the most vulnerable people, 03:52.330 --> 03:56.143 and third, the areas where we seek your collective support. 03:58.330 --> 04:02.410 Mr President, we recently produced a draft overview report 04:02.410 --> 04:05.730 on priority humanitarian needs in Venezuela. 04:05.730 --> 04:10.600 The review was based on the best available data, 04:10.600 --> 04:15.130 from all available official and unofficial sources, 04:15.130 --> 04:17.630 including government data. 04:17.630 --> 04:20.370 We gave our draft report to the government, 04:20.370 --> 04:23.793 and the National Assembly, on 27 March. 04:25.140 --> 04:29.310 We estimate that seven million people in Venezuela 04:29.310 --> 04:32.020 need humanitarian assistance. 04:32.020 --> 04:35.900 That is some 25% of the population. 04:35.900 --> 04:38.810 There are people in need throughout the country, 04:38.810 --> 04:42.630 but needs are most severe in the three states in the South, 04:42.630 --> 04:45.533 and the Zulia and Lara states in the West. 04:47.220 --> 04:49.440 People with chronic health conditions, 04:49.440 --> 04:53.030 pregnant and nursing women, children under five, 04:53.030 --> 04:55.890 indigenous people, people on the move, 04:55.890 --> 04:58.490 and those living with disabilities, 04:58.490 --> 05:00.253 are among the most vulnerable. 05:02.290 --> 05:05.540 Mr President, the context is a severe 05:05.540 --> 05:09.110 and continuing economic contraction, 05:09.110 --> 05:12.830 with associated dramatic increases in inflation, 05:12.830 --> 05:17.550 on a scale seen in few, if any, other countries 05:17.550 --> 05:20.313 around the world, in recent years. 05:21.940 --> 05:24.857 Our review found that access to nutrient rich foods, 05:24.857 --> 05:27.583 and a varied diet has diminished. 05:28.580 --> 05:31.140 Historically, Venezuela has imported 05:31.140 --> 05:34.310 up to 75% of its food. 05:34.310 --> 05:37.460 As a result of the crisis, the availability 05:37.460 --> 05:40.200 and affordability of food has fallen, 05:40.200 --> 05:43.530 with lower imports, reduced local production, 05:43.530 --> 05:45.343 and declining purchasing power. 05:46.320 --> 05:50.823 Many people depend on subsidized food to meet their needs. 05:51.730 --> 05:54.560 Six million families across the country 05:54.560 --> 05:57.720 reportedly benefit from food supplies 05:57.720 --> 05:59.813 distributed by the government. 06:01.400 --> 06:03.820 Despite this, malnutrition has increased, 06:03.820 --> 06:07.070 especially in areas with the highest poverty rates. 06:07.070 --> 06:09.110 The UN Food and Agriculture Organization 06:09.110 --> 06:13.640 has estimated that in 2018, some 3.7 million people 06:13.640 --> 06:16.020 suffered from undernourishment. 06:16.020 --> 06:17.600 The prevalence of undernourishment 06:17.600 --> 06:21.400 has almost trebled over a five year period. 06:21.400 --> 06:23.490 Other aid organizations report an increase 06:23.490 --> 06:26.020 in the Global Acute Malnutrition rate 06:26.020 --> 06:27.623 among children under five. 06:28.530 --> 06:31.010 We estimate that 1.9 million people 06:31.010 --> 06:32.840 require nutritional assistance, 06:32.840 --> 06:35.853 including 1.3 million children under five. 06:36.980 --> 06:40.270 More data is needed to improve our understanding 06:40.270 --> 06:43.523 of the nutrition and food security situation. 06:45.690 --> 06:47.900 The Venezuela health system is strained 06:47.900 --> 06:50.760 by shortages in personnel, medical supplies, 06:50.760 --> 06:53.390 equipment and electricity. 06:53.390 --> 06:56.030 Reduced access to medicines has increased 06:56.030 --> 06:58.800 the risk of morbidity, and mortality 06:58.800 --> 07:03.800 from diabetes, hypertension, cancer, and HIV/AIDs. 07:04.640 --> 07:07.510 Preventable diseases like tuberculosis, 07:07.510 --> 07:12.203 diptheria, measles and malaria have resurfaced. 07:13.200 --> 07:15.650 The World Health Organization registered more than 07:15.650 --> 07:20.550 four hundred thousand cases of malaria in 2017, 07:20.550 --> 07:24.180 nearly 70% more than the year before. 07:24.180 --> 07:28.173 That was the largest increase in the world that year. 07:29.400 --> 07:32.190 Overall, we estimate some 2.8 million people 07:32.190 --> 07:35.530 need health assistance, including 1.1 million 07:35.530 --> 07:37.133 children under five. 07:38.850 --> 07:41.960 Health problems are exacerbated by insufficient access 07:41.960 --> 07:45.840 to clean water, and inadequate sanitation systems. 07:45.840 --> 07:48.070 One estimate suggests that 17% 07:48.070 --> 07:50.940 of people living in poverty have no access 07:50.940 --> 07:55.430 to safe water, or receive it only once a fortnight. 07:55.430 --> 07:59.100 Recent power outages are making this problem worse. 07:59.100 --> 08:01.310 Some families have resorted to using water 08:01.310 --> 08:05.593 from unclean sources, because they cannot afford safe water. 08:06.550 --> 08:09.340 Sanitation systems have deteriorated, 08:09.340 --> 08:13.240 affecting solid waste management, among other services. 08:13.240 --> 08:16.640 Basic hygiene needs like hand-washing 08:16.640 --> 08:19.620 are undermined by the unavailability, 08:19.620 --> 08:24.133 or unaffordability, of water and cleaning supplies. 08:25.410 --> 08:29.420 We estimate that some 4.3 million people 08:29.420 --> 08:33.193 require water and sanitation assistance. 08:35.240 --> 08:37.340 The crisis has interrupted the education 08:37.340 --> 08:39.300 of more than one million children. 08:39.300 --> 08:41.710 Many families cannot afford the transportation, 08:41.710 --> 08:45.373 clothing, or shoes children need to go to school. 08:46.280 --> 08:49.130 The population on the move is at particular risk 08:49.130 --> 08:52.550 of protection violations, as are women and girls, 08:52.550 --> 08:57.130 who compose 72% of trafficking victims. 08:57.130 --> 09:01.010 More than 3.4 million people have already left the country. 09:01.010 --> 09:03.760 We estimate that some 2.7 million people, 09:03.760 --> 09:07.250 still inside Venezuela, require protection, 09:07.250 --> 09:08.993 assistance and services. 09:11.260 --> 09:13.160 Mr President, let me now move on 09:13.160 --> 09:16.293 to how we are assisting the most vulnerable people. 09:17.290 --> 09:20.180 The United Nations and other humanitarian organizations 09:20.180 --> 09:22.270 are on the ground, and we have been 09:22.270 --> 09:24.420 expanding our operations. 09:24.420 --> 09:27.900 Since 2017, the number of UN staff 09:27.900 --> 09:32.610 has increased from 210 to nearly 400. 09:32.610 --> 09:36.430 UN agencies are working in all 24 states. 09:36.430 --> 09:38.750 Our efforts are particularly concentrated 09:38.750 --> 09:40.230 in the vulnerable border states 09:40.230 --> 09:42.503 of Zulia, Tachira, and Bolivar. 09:44.670 --> 09:48.170 To support the expansion of humanitarian assistance, 09:48.170 --> 09:50.660 I released nine million dollars 09:50.660 --> 09:54.250 from the Central Emergency Response Fund, in late 2018. 09:55.860 --> 09:58.080 Through this grant, as well as bilateral funding 09:58.080 --> 10:02.730 from donors, the UN has provided 189,000 children 10:02.730 --> 10:04.780 with preventive and curative treatment 10:04.780 --> 10:08.350 for acute malnutrition, expanded maternal 10:08.350 --> 10:10.520 and child health through the provision of medicines 10:10.520 --> 10:15.140 and supplies from 74,000 health kits, 10:15.140 --> 10:19.120 donated 10 generators to provide emergency power 10:19.120 --> 10:23.070 for hospitals, installed water tanks in hospitals 10:23.070 --> 10:26.640 to ensure a safe supply of water for pediatric 10:26.640 --> 10:31.280 and maternal services, distributed 10 million tablets 10:31.280 --> 10:35.770 for the treatment of HIV, among 50,000 people 10:35.770 --> 10:40.407 across all 24 states, and delivered 176,000 10:41.510 --> 10:46.440 doses of vaccine against measles, mumps, and rubella, 10:46.440 --> 10:48.563 for babies and young children. 10:49.800 --> 10:53.150 The UN and other aid organizations are working 10:53.150 --> 10:57.460 with institutions and organizations across the spectrum, 10:57.460 --> 11:00.700 including line ministries, and national civil society 11:00.700 --> 11:04.060 organizations, and we are in touch with 11:04.060 --> 11:05.383 the National Assembly. 11:07.010 --> 11:09.660 Under the leadership of the UNs resident coordinator, 11:09.660 --> 11:12.610 we recently established a Cooperation and Assistance 11:12.610 --> 11:16.490 Coordination team, bringing together UN agencies, 11:16.490 --> 11:19.640 the Red Cross, and NGOs in Caracas, 11:19.640 --> 11:23.650 to provide strategic level guidance and coordination 11:23.650 --> 11:25.623 to the humanitarian operation. 11:27.680 --> 11:31.490 Mr President, it is clear that much more is needed. 11:31.490 --> 11:35.040 We seek the support of this council 11:35.040 --> 11:37.833 for action in three areas. 11:38.840 --> 11:43.840 First, improved respect for principled humanitarian action. 11:44.340 --> 11:47.730 In Venezuela, there is a need to separate 11:47.730 --> 11:51.620 political and humanitarian objectives. 11:51.620 --> 11:55.110 Humanitarian assistance must be delivered 11:55.110 --> 11:57.653 on the basis of need alone. 11:58.730 --> 12:01.030 The Secretary General has repeatedly stressed 12:01.030 --> 12:03.800 the importance of the humanitarian principles, 12:03.800 --> 12:06.823 and has called on member states, and others to respect them. 12:07.690 --> 12:11.110 We seek the council's support to safeguard 12:11.110 --> 12:15.653 the neutral and impartial nature of humanitarian action. 12:17.380 --> 12:19.960 Second, an enabling operating environment 12:19.960 --> 12:24.360 including sustained and regular access to people in need. 12:24.360 --> 12:28.610 I note recent steps taken by the government of Venezuela, 12:28.610 --> 12:31.420 to facilitate the entrance of additional UN staff 12:31.420 --> 12:33.770 into the country, and the expansion 12:33.770 --> 12:35.310 of humanitarian programs, 12:35.310 --> 12:38.800 including those of the Red Cross movement. 12:38.800 --> 12:41.060 Additional steps are needed. 12:41.060 --> 12:44.350 We need more humanitarian organizations with the capacity 12:44.350 --> 12:48.090 to meet urgent needs to establish a presence 12:48.090 --> 12:52.010 and assist with operations in the country. 12:52.010 --> 12:56.240 We also need more data and information, 12:56.240 --> 12:58.750 to ensure our understanding of needs 12:58.750 --> 13:00.793 evolves with the situation. 13:02.460 --> 13:07.090 Third, more money, to support the expansion 13:07.090 --> 13:09.490 of humanitarian programs. 13:09.490 --> 13:13.840 The resources available now are extremely modest 13:13.840 --> 13:16.594 in relation to the needs we see. 13:16.594 --> 13:19.320 I would like to thank member states who've contributed 13:19.320 --> 13:21.160 to the provision of humanitarian assistance 13:21.160 --> 13:24.080 in Venezuela, including our generous donors 13:24.080 --> 13:25.970 supporting the CERF. 13:25.970 --> 13:28.363 Your continued support is critical, 13:29.580 --> 13:31.723 but we need a lot more. 13:32.760 --> 13:35.145 Thank you very much, Mr President. 13:35.145 --> 13:37.210 (paper rustling) 13:37.210 --> 13:40.540 - I thank Mr Lowcock for his briefing, 13:40.540 --> 13:43.653 and I now give the floor to Mr Eduardo Stein. 13:47.560 --> 13:50.223 - Mr President, excellencies, 13:51.150 --> 13:54.420 the situation in Venezuela has resulted 13:54.420 --> 13:59.240 in a population outflow, the magnitude of which 13:59.240 --> 14:03.603 is unparalleled in the modern history of the region. 14:04.510 --> 14:08.380 At present, with the last three years at hand, 14:08.380 --> 14:13.100 we estimate 3.7 million Venezuelans 14:13.100 --> 14:18.100 outside of their country, approximately 80% of which 14:18.950 --> 14:22.313 have left since 2015. 14:23.725 --> 14:26.187 Although the vast majority of Venezuelans 14:26.187 --> 14:28.185 who have left home can be found 14:28.185 --> 14:32.463 in neighboring countries, and other parts of South America, 14:33.420 --> 14:38.420 it is important to note that more than 20 countries 14:38.480 --> 14:41.590 are affected by these outflows 14:41.590 --> 14:44.673 across the hemisphere and beyond. 14:45.890 --> 14:48.840 Last year, Venezuelans left the country 14:48.840 --> 14:53.160 at a net rate of about 5,000 per day, 14:53.160 --> 14:55.730 and they continue to leave the country, 14:55.730 --> 15:00.633 despite recent border closures on the Venezuelan side. 15:01.580 --> 15:06.510 If the trend continues in 2019, 15:06.510 --> 15:10.970 we estimate that the total number of Venezuelans 15:10.970 --> 15:15.140 outside the country will exceed five million 15:15.140 --> 15:17.093 by the end of this year. 15:18.400 --> 15:21.910 The testimonials and feedback from Venezuelans 15:21.910 --> 15:24.900 arriving to countries in the region 15:24.900 --> 15:29.720 outline a range of factors of an imperative 15:29.720 --> 15:33.633 contributing to their departure from the country. 15:34.870 --> 15:38.980 The stated reasons for leaving include insecurity 15:38.980 --> 15:43.860 and violence, lack of access to food, medicine, 15:43.860 --> 15:48.600 and essential services, as well as loss of income 15:48.600 --> 15:52.493 and lack of effective national protection systems. 15:54.080 --> 15:58.120 Against this backdrop of deteriorating conditions 15:58.120 --> 16:01.700 inside Venezuela, we observe individuals 16:01.700 --> 16:04.286 and families leaving the country 16:04.286 --> 16:07.773 with increasing needs and vulnerabilities. 16:09.340 --> 16:13.580 A disproportionately high rate of family separation 16:13.580 --> 16:18.560 is already taking place as some family members 16:18.560 --> 16:21.490 leave in search of opportunities 16:21.490 --> 16:25.580 to support those back home, or secure the means 16:25.580 --> 16:27.963 to later bring their relatives. 16:29.480 --> 16:33.050 The aforementioned border closures 16:33.050 --> 16:36.429 also make it necessary for the majority of persons 16:36.429 --> 16:40.040 to cross the border irregularly, 16:40.040 --> 16:43.520 and in very dangerous conditions, 16:43.520 --> 16:48.520 leaving them at additional risks of exploitation and abuse, 16:49.100 --> 16:53.573 including through human smuggling and trafficking. 16:54.920 --> 16:58.800 The presence of illegal armed actors in multiple 16:58.800 --> 17:03.800 border areas and the seasonal rise of border-river flows, 17:05.110 --> 17:08.470 create additional challenges and risks 17:08.470 --> 17:12.620 for the continuous population outflows, 17:12.620 --> 17:16.050 which includes the possible recruitment, 17:16.050 --> 17:19.203 also affecting children and youth. 17:20.760 --> 17:24.290 In this context, it is important to highlight 17:24.290 --> 17:28.500 the generosity of countries receiving Venezuelans, 17:28.500 --> 17:32.973 for those in transit as well as those being hosted. 17:34.050 --> 17:39.050 These countries have largely maintained open-door policies, 17:39.330 --> 17:42.650 and through the Quito process, they continue 17:42.650 --> 17:45.990 to work towards harmonized approaches 17:45.990 --> 17:50.870 on important matters, such as reception arrangements, 17:50.870 --> 17:54.860 regular stay provisions, documentation, 17:54.860 --> 17:58.893 and social, economic, and cultural inclusion. 18:00.520 --> 18:03.350 The third Quito meeting of the human mobility 18:03.350 --> 18:06.490 of Venezuelans in Latin America 18:06.490 --> 18:09.790 brought together, this week, participants 18:09.790 --> 18:14.790 from 12 countries and observers from 13 countries, 18:15.410 --> 18:19.250 as well as United Nations agencies, 18:19.250 --> 18:22.130 international cooperation agencies, 18:22.130 --> 18:24.703 and financial organizations. 18:25.850 --> 18:28.800 Technical discussions during the meeting, 18:28.800 --> 18:33.210 indicate that important advances in the harmonization 18:33.210 --> 18:38.210 of approaches in the fields of entry, stay requirements, 18:38.800 --> 18:41.853 access to rights and documentation. 18:43.240 --> 18:47.180 Participating countries reaffirmed their commitment 18:47.180 --> 18:50.740 to the continuity of the Quito process, 18:50.740 --> 18:55.497 and announced that Argentina will assume the leading role 18:55.497 --> 18:59.130 in moving forward the process and host 18:59.130 --> 19:02.683 the next meeting in Buenos Aires this July. 19:03.890 --> 19:08.523 Paraguay offered to take over the process after Argentina. 19:09.983 --> 19:14.520 A priority issue identified by all participants, 19:14.520 --> 19:19.520 was the urgent need for greater international cooperation, 19:20.770 --> 19:25.770 and involved bi-lateral development and financial actors 19:27.400 --> 19:31.640 in this unprecedented humanitarian situation, 19:31.640 --> 19:34.750 affecting many states of the Latin American 19:34.750 --> 19:39.563 and Caribbean region, as well as other countries. 19:40.970 --> 19:44.960 Despite these efforts, national capacities 19:44.960 --> 19:49.063 are increasingly strained, in some cases, 19:49.063 --> 19:51.720 with the risk of denial of entry, 19:51.720 --> 19:55.153 or access to regular migration schemes. 19:56.320 --> 19:59.730 The experience to date, however, demonstrate 19:59.730 --> 20:04.110 that Venezuelans continue to move across the region 20:04.110 --> 20:08.657 regularly or irregularly, and it is in the best interests 20:08.657 --> 20:13.020 of receiving countries to avoid situations 20:13.020 --> 20:18.020 where Venezuelans remain undocumented, invisible, 20:18.100 --> 20:21.820 and without access to basic rights, 20:21.820 --> 20:25.810 and exposed to situations of violence, 20:25.810 --> 20:28.583 exploitation, or abuse. 20:30.650 --> 20:34.270 Taking into account these considerations, 20:34.270 --> 20:38.510 I would like to highlight some implications for, 20:38.510 --> 20:42.730 and requests to the council and the international 20:42.730 --> 20:44.433 community as a whole. 20:45.590 --> 20:49.520 First, more support is needed for states 20:49.520 --> 20:54.520 employing open doors policies to receive, assist, 20:54.730 --> 20:58.410 and host Venezuelan outflows, including 20:58.410 --> 21:02.540 the initiatives of the Quito process. 21:02.540 --> 21:06.630 Second, communities receiving Venezuelans 21:06.630 --> 21:08.563 are in need of support. 21:09.410 --> 21:12.920 Many of the communities receiving Venezuelans 21:12.920 --> 21:16.260 have needs of their own, and support is needed 21:16.260 --> 21:18.813 also for the host population. 21:19.825 --> 21:24.480 By addressing the needs of both, we can increase 21:24.480 --> 21:28.420 the impact of the humanitarian response, 21:28.420 --> 21:33.420 mitigate the possibilities of xenophobic expressions, 21:33.737 --> 21:38.160 and create a better climate for the local integration 21:38.160 --> 21:41.483 of Venezuelans to the host communities. 21:42.460 --> 21:47.390 And third, additional support from the international 21:47.390 --> 21:50.783 cooperation, is critically needed. 21:51.650 --> 21:55.990 Despite some important contributions to date, 21:55.990 --> 22:00.990 on the whole, more is needed in terms of financial support 22:01.420 --> 22:03.830 to countries and other actors 22:03.830 --> 22:08.210 engaged in the humanitarian response. 22:08.210 --> 22:13.210 These contributions not only strengthen the humanitarian 22:13.320 --> 22:17.860 response and socio-economic integration solutions, 22:17.860 --> 22:21.020 Mr President, but also contribute 22:21.020 --> 22:25.040 to the stability as a whole, 22:25.040 --> 22:30.040 as it faces unprecedented humanitarian challenges. 22:30.540 --> 22:31.943 Thank you very much. 22:33.879 --> 22:35.980 - I thank Mr Stein for his briefing, 22:35.980 --> 22:38.693 and now give the floor to Miss Kathleen Page. 22:40.330 --> 22:42.340 - Thank you, Mr President, and members 22:42.340 --> 22:44.690 of the Security Council, for the opportunity 22:44.690 --> 22:47.270 to present our findings here today. 22:47.270 --> 22:49.400 I am Kathleen Page, a physician, 22:49.400 --> 22:52.340 and faculty at John Hopkins School of Medicine. 22:52.340 --> 22:53.960 The findings that I'm presenting today 22:53.960 --> 22:56.680 were published last week by Human Rights Watch, 22:56.680 --> 22:59.623 with the John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. 23:00.500 --> 23:02.790 Our report concludes that the combination 23:02.790 --> 23:06.700 of severe medicine, health supplies, food shortages 23:06.700 --> 23:09.510 in Venezuela, together with a spread of epidemics 23:09.510 --> 23:11.880 within and across the country's borders, 23:11.880 --> 23:15.520 has resulted in a breakdown of Venezuela's health system. 23:15.520 --> 23:18.260 The crisis in Venezuela fits the definition 23:18.260 --> 23:21.090 of a complex humanitarian emergency, 23:21.090 --> 23:24.230 and the UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, 23:24.230 --> 23:26.650 should formally declare it as such, 23:26.650 --> 23:29.470 and lead a full-scale UN led response 23:29.470 --> 23:32.623 that is neutral, independent, and impartial. 23:33.740 --> 23:35.613 We conducted research at the borders of Venezuela 23:35.613 --> 23:39.910 and Columbia and Brazil, interviewing more than 150 23:39.910 --> 23:42.820 health professionals, humanitarian actors, 23:42.820 --> 23:45.310 UN officials, and local authorities, 23:45.310 --> 23:47.010 as well as dozens of Venezuelans 23:47.010 --> 23:49.140 who had crossed the border. 23:49.140 --> 23:51.800 We also reviewed data from the Venezuelan government, 23:51.800 --> 23:55.010 international organizations, Venezuelan hospitals, 23:55.010 --> 23:57.265 and other local actors. 23:57.265 --> 24:00.370 The health data we analyzed, show a health system 24:00.370 --> 24:02.690 that is not functioning, with increasing 24:02.690 --> 24:05.010 mortality and morbidity. 24:05.010 --> 24:08.650 The recent nationwide blackouts have further undermined 24:08.650 --> 24:10.950 the ability of public hospitals to respond 24:10.950 --> 24:12.973 to the medical needs of Venezuelans. 24:14.320 --> 24:17.550 The latest statistics from the Venezuelan Ministry of Health 24:17.550 --> 24:21.190 indicate that between 2015 and 2016, 24:21.190 --> 24:26.190 maternal mortality rose by 65%, and infant mortality by 30%. 24:27.480 --> 24:29.980 Venezuela is the only country in the region 24:29.980 --> 24:32.120 where infant mortality is rising 24:32.120 --> 24:35.803 and has returned to levels last seen in the 1990s. 24:36.700 --> 24:38.430 Infectious diseases are increasing 24:38.430 --> 24:40.810 and spreading at an alarming rate. 24:40.810 --> 24:44.390 Between 2008 and 2016, only a single 24:44.390 --> 24:46.770 case of measles was recorded. 24:46.770 --> 24:51.150 Since 2017, there are more than 9,300 cases 24:51.150 --> 24:54.830 in Venezuela, and an additional 10,000 in Brazil, 24:54.830 --> 24:57.010 mostly in border areas. 24:57.010 --> 25:00.740 Since 2016, there have been more than 2,500 25:00.740 --> 25:02.500 suspected cases of diptheria, 25:02.500 --> 25:05.073 whereas there were none in the preceding decade. 25:06.110 --> 25:08.620 Malaria has also increased in recent years, 25:08.620 --> 25:12.580 with fewer than 36,000 cases in 2009, 25:12.580 --> 25:17.010 to more than 414,000 cases in 2017, 25:17.010 --> 25:20.070 the highest rate of increase in the world. 25:20.070 --> 25:23.810 The number of tuberculosis cases increased from 6,000 25:23.810 --> 25:28.810 in 2014, to 13,000 in 2017, resulting in 25:29.100 --> 25:33.190 the highest TB incidence rate in 40 years. 25:33.190 --> 25:38.067 In 2018, nearly nine of 10 Venezuelans living with HIV 25:38.067 --> 25:40.923 were not receiving antiretroviral therapy. 25:42.060 --> 25:44.260 Although Venezuelan authorities stopped publishing 25:44.260 --> 25:46.910 statistics on nutrition in 2007, 25:46.910 --> 25:49.550 available evidence indicates that hunger, 25:49.550 --> 25:53.450 malnutrition and severe food shortages are widespread. 25:53.450 --> 25:58.450 Between 2015 and 17, nearly 12% of Venezuelans, 25:58.460 --> 26:02.040 3.7 million people, were undernourished. 26:02.040 --> 26:06.110 National surveys show that 80% of Venezuelan households 26:06.110 --> 26:07.877 are food insecure. 26:07.877 --> 26:11.253 In some locations, acute malnutrition among children 26:11.253 --> 26:14.940 surpasses crisis thresholds. 26:14.940 --> 26:18.280 Hospitals across the country are reporting increases 26:18.280 --> 26:20.350 in pediatric admissions and mortality, 26:20.350 --> 26:22.233 due to acute malnutrition. 26:24.040 --> 26:26.630 Venezuelan authorities no longer publish 26:26.630 --> 26:28.730 official health information. 26:28.730 --> 26:30.840 They have threatened and retaliated against 26:30.840 --> 26:33.050 health care workers who collect data, 26:33.050 --> 26:37.250 report deaths, or speak out about medicine shortages. 26:37.250 --> 26:40.050 Objective and verifiable data are critical 26:40.050 --> 26:43.220 to assess the situation, follow trends, 26:43.220 --> 26:46.780 and create an effective humanitarian response. 26:46.780 --> 26:48.610 While more international aid has started 26:48.610 --> 26:51.180 to enter the country, the response to date has been 26:51.180 --> 26:53.190 insufficient, and there have been 26:53.190 --> 26:55.830 obstacles to implementation. 26:55.830 --> 26:58.240 While Venezuelan authorities are within their rights 26:58.240 --> 27:01.400 to reject particular offers of assistance, 27:01.400 --> 27:03.600 they are responsible for fully addressing 27:03.600 --> 27:05.943 the country's urgent humanitarian needs. 27:06.970 --> 27:08.820 To protect the rights to health and food 27:08.820 --> 27:11.150 of the Venezuelan people, we recommend 27:11.150 --> 27:13.920 that the Secretary General declare that Venezuela 27:13.920 --> 27:16.850 is facing a complex humanitarian emergency, 27:16.850 --> 27:19.710 and acknowledge the severity of the situation. 27:19.710 --> 27:21.700 The crisis should be a top priority, 27:21.700 --> 27:24.460 that requires a UN system-wide full-scale 27:24.460 --> 27:28.070 mobilization of humanitarian relief. 27:28.070 --> 27:29.880 The Secretary General should request 27:29.880 --> 27:33.640 that Venezuelan authorities grant full access 27:33.640 --> 27:37.390 to UN agencies to data about health nutrition, 27:37.390 --> 27:40.260 and food security, and allow them to undertake 27:40.260 --> 27:44.820 a nationwide comprehensive humanitarian needs assessment. 27:44.820 --> 27:47.790 The response we are calling for would be credible, 27:47.790 --> 27:50.690 neutral, and independent, as well as impartial, 27:50.690 --> 27:53.803 as it would be under the auspices of the United Nations. 27:54.850 --> 27:58.860 Furthermore, the UN Security Council should regularly meet 27:58.860 --> 28:01.660 to address the humanitarian crisis in Venezuela, 28:01.660 --> 28:05.440 as well as its regional impact, where more than 3.4 million 28:05.440 --> 28:08.003 Venezuelans have left the country in recent years. 28:08.950 --> 28:12.060 We call upon the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights 28:12.060 --> 28:15.340 to document violations to the rights to health and food 28:15.340 --> 28:19.270 in corrupt commune report on the situation of Venezuela. 28:19.270 --> 28:22.500 And finally, we call upon the UN Human Rights Council 28:22.500 --> 28:25.150 to continue to monitor the humanitarian situation 28:25.150 --> 28:27.990 in Venezuela, and adopt a resolution to create 28:27.990 --> 28:30.220 an international commission of inquiry, 28:30.220 --> 28:34.240 to investigate violations of the rights to health and food. 28:34.240 --> 28:36.640 Thank you very much for your time and attention. 28:39.372 --> 28:43.860 - I thank Miss Page for her briefing. 28:43.860 --> 28:48.520 I will give the floor to those council members 28:48.520 --> 28:53.520 who wish to make statements, and we will start with 28:55.190 --> 28:57.990 his excellency Mr Mike Pence, the vice-president 28:57.990 --> 28:59.690 of the United States of America, 28:59.690 --> 29:04.500 who is about to arrive. 29:04.500 --> 29:07.770 While we are waiting for the vice-president, 29:07.770 --> 29:12.130 let me orally say that, first, thanking the briefers, 29:12.130 --> 29:16.090 and also then asking them to stay, also Mr Stein, 29:16.090 --> 29:21.090 so that we can ask questions to them, around the council, 29:21.370 --> 29:24.510 and then in a final round, you could also then 29:24.510 --> 29:29.470 respond to those questions that have been made. 29:33.610 --> 29:38.610 We are... just bear with me for a second. 29:41.617 --> 29:43.867 (rustling) 30:10.525 --> 30:12.775 (rustling) 30:20.660 --> 30:23.410 - I welcome and I give the floor to 30:23.410 --> 30:26.410 his excellency, Mr Mike Pence, Vice-President 30:26.410 --> 30:28.340 of the United States of America. 30:28.340 --> 30:29.290 You have the floor. 30:33.100 --> 30:34.993 - Mr Secretary General, Mr President, 30:35.839 --> 30:38.083 to all the members of the Security Council. 30:39.750 --> 30:41.670 I am here today, on behalf of the President 30:41.670 --> 30:44.043 of the United States of America, 30:44.043 --> 30:46.833 to discuss the ongoing crisis in Venezuela, 30:48.135 --> 30:52.740 and to call on this body, to stand up 30:52.740 --> 30:56.093 for democracy, and the rule of law, 30:58.710 --> 31:01.623 in that nation that has suffered so much. 31:03.760 --> 31:06.230 Article 24 of the UN charter confers 31:06.230 --> 31:10.440 on this Security Council the responsibility 31:10.440 --> 31:13.240 for the maintenance of international peace and security. 31:14.680 --> 31:17.230 As another American President said, many years ago, 31:18.497 --> 31:22.910 "The United Nations is designed to make possible 31:22.910 --> 31:25.707 lasting freedom and independence for all its members." 31:27.580 --> 31:30.183 It is why this institution exists. 31:32.820 --> 31:36.680 For six long years, the people of Venezuela have suffered 31:37.940 --> 31:39.690 under the heavy hand of oppression. 31:41.490 --> 31:43.470 The Maduro Regime's socialist policies 31:43.470 --> 31:45.520 have shrunk their economy by nearly half. 31:46.505 --> 31:51.505 In what was once one of the wealthiest countries 31:51.770 --> 31:55.300 in our hemisphere, nine out of 10 people 31:55.300 --> 31:56.323 now live in poverty. 31:58.690 --> 32:01.250 The average Venezuelan has lost more than 20 pounds 32:01.250 --> 32:03.203 through deprivation and malnutrition. 32:04.260 --> 32:08.773 Thousands of Venezuelan children are starving, 32:11.560 --> 32:15.870 and at this very hour, infants in hospitals 32:15.870 --> 32:20.870 across Venezuela are dying for lack of basic medical care, 32:25.250 --> 32:30.250 and the Maduro regime, in the midst of this deprivation 32:30.610 --> 32:35.020 and suffering, has used violence and intimidation 32:35.020 --> 32:38.883 against any one who opposes their actions. 32:40.090 --> 32:42.850 In the last three months, the regime has thrown 32:42.850 --> 32:47.133 at least 1,255 people into jail, 32:48.210 --> 32:50.053 without any due process of law, 32:51.520 --> 32:53.573 and killed at least 40 protestors. 32:56.470 --> 32:59.043 That's the nature of the regime that we're dealing with. 33:01.660 --> 33:03.480 But the Maduro regime is not only a threat 33:03.480 --> 33:05.600 to the Venezuelan people, it is a threat 33:05.600 --> 33:09.373 to the peace and security of the wider region as well. 33:10.870 --> 33:13.680 The rising desperation in Venezuela has fueled 33:13.680 --> 33:17.676 a mass exodus the likes of which we have never seen, 33:17.676 --> 33:19.663 in the Western hemisphere. 33:21.170 --> 33:23.880 More than 3 million Venezuelans have now abandoned 33:23.880 --> 33:26.580 their beloved country, and if things don't get better, 33:27.420 --> 33:29.440 it is estimated that another 2 million 33:29.440 --> 33:31.963 are expected to follow before the year is out. 33:35.080 --> 33:37.730 Traveling through the region, my wife and I witnessed 33:39.430 --> 33:41.583 the results of this deprivation first hand. 33:42.820 --> 33:45.980 At a church in Manaus, Brazil, we spoke to families 33:45.980 --> 33:50.980 who had fled the deprivation in Venezuela. 33:52.010 --> 33:54.670 And I'll never forget when a father looked at me, 33:54.670 --> 33:57.970 with his two young boys standing at his side, 33:57.970 --> 34:01.630 and said how hard it was, as a father, 34:01.630 --> 34:04.103 to come home at the end of the day and say, 34:05.810 --> 34:07.033 we're not eating today. 34:08.800 --> 34:11.263 And as he said it, his two little boys looked up, 34:12.260 --> 34:15.643 and nodded, recalling those days. 34:17.530 --> 34:20.080 And then there was the day, in Cartagena, Columbia, 34:21.220 --> 34:26.070 at another mission where Venezuelan people had fled 34:26.070 --> 34:27.177 the deprivation in their country, 34:27.177 --> 34:30.680 and a grandmother told me how it'd gotten so bad 34:30.680 --> 34:34.740 in their small rural town, her grandchildren 34:34.740 --> 34:36.600 had had to rise at four in the morning, 34:36.600 --> 34:40.810 to get a single ticket to purchase a piece of bread, 34:40.810 --> 34:42.313 at four in the afternoon. 34:43.950 --> 34:45.300 The children were starving. 34:47.290 --> 34:51.193 And she gathered up her grandchildren, and fled the country. 34:54.100 --> 34:56.550 Those are the stories the world deserves to hear. 34:57.690 --> 34:58.927 Of deprivation. 34:58.927 --> 35:00.810 And the truth is, those who stayed behind 35:00.810 --> 35:05.810 are subject to crime, violence, and lawlessness. 35:06.720 --> 35:08.480 Thieves in Venezuela don't rob banks, 35:08.480 --> 35:10.023 they rob restaurants for food. 35:11.700 --> 35:14.420 Vicious gangs and so-called Collectivos 35:15.350 --> 35:17.300 have turned the streets into war zones. 35:18.660 --> 35:22.303 Venezuela now has the highest murder rate in the world, 35:23.490 --> 35:27.243 as more than 70 people are murdered every single day. 35:29.260 --> 35:33.470 Venezuela is a failed state, and as history teaches, 35:33.470 --> 35:36.763 failed states know no boundaries. 35:38.120 --> 35:40.890 Drug traffickers, criminal gangs, even terrorists 35:40.890 --> 35:44.100 like Hezbollah are exploiting the chaos in Venezuela 35:44.100 --> 35:46.300 to gain a foothold in the region, 35:46.300 --> 35:48.503 and export crime and violence. 35:50.470 --> 35:52.223 Were we to let the crisis continue, 35:54.550 --> 35:56.600 the chaos and suffering will only spread. 35:59.040 --> 36:00.300 The struggle in Venezuela is 36:00.300 --> 36:02.393 between dictatorship and democracy. 36:04.123 --> 36:05.930 Nicolás Maduro is a dictator with no 36:05.930 --> 36:09.913 legitimate claim to power, and Nicolás Maduro must go. 36:12.280 --> 36:15.433 But for all the suffering of the Venezuelan people, 36:17.470 --> 36:21.530 across Venezuela in cities large and small, 36:21.530 --> 36:22.783 people are rising up. 36:24.670 --> 36:27.620 They're rising up against their oppression and deprivation. 36:29.020 --> 36:32.450 Today, those courageous Venezuelans 36:32.450 --> 36:34.000 will take to the streets again. 36:34.930 --> 36:36.697 And as President Trump said not long ago, 36:36.697 --> 36:39.507 "the fight for freedom in Venezuela has just begun." 36:42.490 --> 36:47.044 Just three short months ago, after Nicolás Maduro was 36:47.044 --> 36:51.293 sworn into his second term, stolen in a sham election, 36:53.750 --> 36:55.860 The National Assembly, the only duly elected 36:55.860 --> 36:58.470 body in Venezuela, exercised its power 36:58.470 --> 37:01.070 under the Constitution, and recognized a new leader, 37:01.930 --> 37:04.053 Interim President Juan Guaidó. 37:06.640 --> 37:08.250 And all across the Western hemisphere, 37:08.250 --> 37:12.960 nations have been standing up to declare 37:12.960 --> 37:14.773 their support for President Guaidó. 37:16.040 --> 37:19.210 Last month, the Inter-American Development Bank 37:19.210 --> 37:21.610 voted to seat President Guaidó's representative. 37:22.880 --> 37:26.620 Earlier this week, the G7 issued a statement 37:27.630 --> 37:31.110 saying the May 2018 Presidential Election 37:31.110 --> 37:35.240 lacked legitimacy, and called on the Maduro regime 37:35.240 --> 37:37.867 to, in their words, "restore the authority 37:37.867 --> 37:39.477 "of the National Assembly." 37:40.880 --> 37:44.390 And just yesterday, the Organization of American 37:44.390 --> 37:47.743 States, the oldest regional organization in the world, 37:49.240 --> 37:51.150 voted to stand with the Venezuelan people, 37:51.150 --> 37:54.810 and recognize the Guaidó governments representative 37:54.810 --> 37:57.093 as the only true representative of Venezuela. 37:59.770 --> 38:01.810 At President Trump's direction, the United States 38:01.810 --> 38:04.670 was proud to be the first nation to recognize 38:04.670 --> 38:07.170 Interim President Juan Guaidó, 38:07.170 --> 38:09.563 as the legitimate president of Venezuela, 38:10.620 --> 38:13.423 and today, 54 nations have joined us. 38:15.600 --> 38:18.250 The Western hemisphere has spoken with a clear voice. 38:19.580 --> 38:21.430 Nations across the world have spoken. 38:23.560 --> 38:25.713 It's time for the United Nations to speak. 38:28.764 --> 38:31.480 In February, the United States introduced 38:31.480 --> 38:33.210 a resolution to this Security Council, 38:33.210 --> 38:36.030 that called for the restoration of democracy 38:36.030 --> 38:38.290 in Venezuela and for the Maduro regime 38:38.290 --> 38:42.183 to allow all humanitarian aid to enter the country. 38:44.250 --> 38:45.850 The resolution was not approved. 38:47.810 --> 38:50.570 Two nations which continue to back this brutal regime 38:50.570 --> 38:54.363 used their vetos to stop this body from taking action. 38:56.920 --> 38:59.187 And while Russia and China continue to obstruct 38:59.187 --> 39:02.600 the Security Council, rogue states like Iran and Cuba 39:02.600 --> 39:05.483 are doing all they can to prop up the Maduro regime. 39:07.830 --> 39:10.410 For decades, Cuba has tried to create 39:10.410 --> 39:12.263 client states across our region. 39:13.650 --> 39:16.003 While normal countries export goods, 39:16.930 --> 39:19.563 Cuba exports tyranny and strong-arm tactics. 39:20.940 --> 39:23.580 Even now, Cuban military and intelligence services 39:23.580 --> 39:27.703 train and support and equip Venezuela's secret police, 39:28.677 --> 39:33.677 as they silence opponents, jail and torture 39:33.710 --> 39:35.010 members of the opposition. 39:37.860 --> 39:39.580 Last week, the United States took action 39:39.580 --> 39:42.503 to sanction ships transporting Venezuelan oil to Cuba, 39:44.350 --> 39:46.210 and soon, at President Trump's direction, 39:46.210 --> 39:48.430 the United States will announce additional action 39:48.430 --> 39:51.640 to hold Cuba accountable for its 39:51.640 --> 39:54.783 malign influence in Venezuela. 39:57.930 --> 40:02.410 And this week, in addition to Cuba's action, 40:02.410 --> 40:04.570 Caracas received a delegation from Iran 40:05.600 --> 40:07.350 to begin direct air service between 40:07.350 --> 40:09.003 these two rogue capitals. 40:10.480 --> 40:15.480 This black-listed airline is used to export terrorism 40:15.520 --> 40:17.800 by Iran's Islamic revolutionary guard core, 40:17.800 --> 40:20.650 which President Trump formally designated 40:20.650 --> 40:22.950 as a foreign terrorist organization on Monday. 40:25.810 --> 40:28.483 This is the company that Nicolás Maduro keeps. 40:31.840 --> 40:33.730 And these nations continue to prop him up, 40:33.730 --> 40:37.483 even as he inflicts suffering on the Venezuelan people. 40:39.290 --> 40:41.440 Just two months ago, the dictator in Caracas 40:41.440 --> 40:46.220 actually danced while his own citizens were shot, 40:46.220 --> 40:47.960 and truck loads of desperately needed 40:47.960 --> 40:49.763 food and medicine burned. 40:52.840 --> 40:55.180 Unlike nations that are subsidizing the dictator 40:55.180 --> 40:57.190 in Caracas, under the leadership of President 40:57.190 --> 40:59.250 Donald Trump, the United States has been standing 40:59.250 --> 41:00.700 with the people of Venezuela. 41:03.340 --> 41:06.930 And we are committed to helping the families 41:06.930 --> 41:08.790 and communities that have been devastated 41:08.790 --> 41:09.973 by the Maduro regime. 41:12.130 --> 41:14.020 At this point, the United States has sanctioned 41:14.020 --> 41:16.830 more than 150 government officials, 41:16.830 --> 41:19.620 and organizations loyal to the dictator. 41:19.620 --> 41:21.730 We've sanctioned state-owned businesses to prevent 41:21.730 --> 41:23.490 the Maduro regime from robbing the people 41:23.490 --> 41:27.420 of what is rightfully theirs, and as President 41:27.420 --> 41:29.420 Trump has said, we can be a lot tougher. 41:31.916 --> 41:36.390 In addition, the United States has positioned 41:36.390 --> 41:41.340 more than 500 metric tons of food and humanitarian supplies 41:41.340 --> 41:45.010 on the Venezuelan border, ready for immediate distribution. 41:45.010 --> 41:48.310 We've provided $200 million in aid, 41:48.310 --> 41:50.860 to support displaced Venezuelans, 41:50.860 --> 41:53.763 and the host communities that support them, 41:54.980 --> 41:56.610 and today, at President Trump's direction, 41:56.610 --> 41:59.610 the United States is announcing an additional $60 million 41:59.610 --> 42:03.193 in humanitarian assistance, to address this crisis. 42:07.330 --> 42:10.210 The United States of America will continue to exert 42:10.210 --> 42:12.940 all diplomatic and economic pressure, 42:12.940 --> 42:15.420 to bring about a peaceful transition to democracy 42:15.420 --> 42:18.153 in Venezuela, but all options are on the table. 42:21.150 --> 42:24.923 Up to this point, while other international bodies 42:29.160 --> 42:30.980 have acted, the United Nations and 42:30.980 --> 42:33.943 this Security Council have refused to act. 42:35.310 --> 42:38.110 But now that nations across this hemisphere have spoken, 42:39.850 --> 42:42.210 the time has come for the United Nations to recognize 42:42.210 --> 42:44.760 Interim President Juan Gauidó as the legitimate 42:44.760 --> 42:46.760 President of Venezuela, and seat 42:46.760 --> 42:48.533 his representative in this body. 42:51.310 --> 42:53.130 This body should revoke the credentials 42:53.130 --> 42:56.560 of Venezuela's representative to the United Nations, 42:56.560 --> 42:59.730 recognize Interim President Juan Guaidó, 42:59.730 --> 43:02.130 and seat the representative of the free Venezuelan 43:02.130 --> 43:04.283 government in this body without delay. 43:09.360 --> 43:12.243 With all due respect, Mr Ambassador, you shouldn't be here. 43:15.060 --> 43:16.683 You should return to Venezuela, 43:17.570 --> 43:19.823 and tell Nicolás Maduro that his time is up. 43:21.060 --> 43:22.260 It's time for him to go. 43:29.010 --> 43:30.660 Members of this Security Council, 43:34.390 --> 43:37.303 the men, women, and children of Venezuela are suffering. 43:39.540 --> 43:41.603 Their economy has been destroyed. 43:43.940 --> 43:46.093 Their democracy has been destroyed. 43:48.734 --> 43:51.293 The people of Venezuela are paying the price, 43:54.820 --> 43:56.280 and soon the region, and the world, 43:56.280 --> 43:58.130 will pay the price if we fail to act. 44:01.120 --> 44:03.293 There can be no bystanders to this history. 44:05.030 --> 44:06.760 For the peace and security of our hemisphere 44:06.760 --> 44:09.540 the world, and the United Nations must stand 44:09.540 --> 44:11.173 with the people of Venezuela. 44:12.710 --> 44:14.440 To that end, the United States is preparing 44:14.440 --> 44:16.950 a resolution, recognizing the legitimacy 44:16.950 --> 44:19.870 of the government of Interim President Juan Guaidó, 44:19.870 --> 44:22.810 and today we urge every member of the Security Council 44:22.810 --> 44:26.293 and all UN member states to support this resolution. 44:27.640 --> 44:31.720 Stand with the Venezuelan people, as they rise up 44:31.720 --> 44:33.773 to restore freedom, democracy, 44:34.635 --> 44:36.423 and 'libertad' to their nation. 44:41.100 --> 44:42.503 And this, they are doing. 44:43.920 --> 44:48.190 They are rising up, against intimidation and violence. 44:51.580 --> 44:53.560 Even today, the people of Venezuela are 44:53.560 --> 44:56.433 taking to the streets to march for freedom. 44:58.880 --> 45:01.330 Despite all the hardship, they continue to march. 45:03.000 --> 45:07.003 Despite all of the oppression, they continue to march. 45:16.170 --> 45:21.170 Despite the opposition, they continue to march 45:21.760 --> 45:24.653 with courage and strength, 45:28.150 --> 45:29.950 because they're marching to freedom. 45:31.580 --> 45:33.280 And in the words of Simón Bolivar, 45:34.987 --> 45:38.127 "A people that loves freedom will, in the end, be free." 45:43.270 --> 45:48.013 But now, it's time for the United Nations to act, 45:50.100 --> 45:53.803 and for the world to stand with the people of Venezuela, 45:54.830 --> 45:56.080 as they march to freedom. 45:58.040 --> 45:59.490 History has taught us what happens 45:59.490 --> 46:01.150 when the civilized nations of the world 46:01.150 --> 46:02.823 allow oppression to go unchecked. 46:06.840 --> 46:08.940 When a brutal dictatorship arose in Europe 46:10.510 --> 46:11.910 the world failed to respond. 46:14.110 --> 46:17.423 Millions of lives were lost in the Second World War. 46:19.277 --> 46:21.710 This very institution was forged 46:23.510 --> 46:25.253 in the aftermath of that war, 46:27.270 --> 46:29.920 so that nations around the world could come together, 46:32.820 --> 46:36.693 and confront dictatorship with one voice. 46:39.710 --> 46:41.940 And so the United States is calling on the United Nations 46:41.940 --> 46:46.940 to live up to its very purpose, 46:49.130 --> 46:51.713 reject the failed leadership of Nicolás Maduro. 46:53.490 --> 46:57.090 Stand with us, stand with nations across the world, 46:57.090 --> 47:00.340 across this hemisphere, to help the people 47:00.340 --> 47:02.190 of Venezuela forge a brighter future. 47:04.270 --> 47:06.387 As President Trump has said, quote, 47:06.387 --> 47:08.950 "If the righteous many do not confront 47:08.950 --> 47:11.107 the wicked few, then evil will triumph." 47:13.120 --> 47:14.840 When decent people and nations become 47:14.840 --> 47:17.582 bystanders to history, the forces of destruction 47:17.582 --> 47:20.063 only gather power and strength. 47:21.730 --> 47:24.270 So let us, today, rededicate ourselves 47:24.270 --> 47:26.670 to the mission upon which this body was founded. 47:30.490 --> 47:35.423 To maintain international peace, and security. 47:38.410 --> 47:42.643 And we have confidence that if we do that, 47:44.190 --> 47:46.913 if we make every effort to be at peace, 47:48.810 --> 47:52.053 that the god of peace will guide us and bless us, 47:52.950 --> 47:55.033 today, tomorrow, and always. 47:56.560 --> 47:58.250 So thank you, Mr President, for the honor 47:58.250 --> 47:59.450 of addressing you today. 48:01.150 --> 48:03.050 May God bless the people of Venezuela. 48:04.933 --> 48:06.543 May God bless you all. 48:12.440 --> 48:15.823 - I thank his excellency Mr Pence for his statement. 48:21.650 --> 48:26.163 I give the floor to the representative of Russia. 48:29.490 --> 48:33.295 Vasily, You have the floor, and I will turn on, 48:33.295 --> 48:36.064 again, for us, the hourglass. 48:36.064 --> 48:38.803 - Thank you, Mr President. 48:41.880 --> 48:46.311 You can turn your hourglass on, 48:46.311 --> 48:51.311 and take a movement as many times as you wish, 48:52.370 --> 48:57.370 but I will take as much time as I need to, Mr President. 49:00.420 --> 49:03.220 We are surprised, and at the same time, 49:03.220 --> 49:07.680 not surprised, by having the Security Council 49:07.680 --> 49:10.860 convene an emergency session with the participation 49:10.860 --> 49:13.403 of the Vice-President of the United States. 49:14.570 --> 49:16.350 Which, of course, we're all always happy 49:16.350 --> 49:18.890 to see him in this room. 49:18.890 --> 49:21.270 It's just unfortunately, that he didn't want 49:21.270 --> 49:24.050 to listen to the other members of the council, 49:24.050 --> 49:26.530 about what they think about this situation in Venezuela. 49:26.530 --> 49:31.230 Today, we are witnessing yet another episode 49:31.230 --> 49:34.190 of a tragedy with several acts, in the attempt 49:34.190 --> 49:36.650 to change a regime in Venezuela. 49:36.650 --> 49:39.490 The situation in Venezuela does not represent 49:39.490 --> 49:42.330 a threat to international peace and security. 49:42.330 --> 49:46.210 However, the external players are a direct threat 49:46.210 --> 49:49.130 to the peace and security of Venezuela itself, 49:49.130 --> 49:52.546 and we just heard that today. 49:52.546 --> 49:56.450 We've just heard a horrific description of the 49:56.450 --> 49:58.670 suffering of the Venezuelan people under the 49:58.670 --> 50:01.540 yoke of an illegitimate dictator, 50:01.540 --> 50:04.750 and the only way to ease those sufferings 50:04.750 --> 50:07.310 is through decisive action by the international community, 50:07.310 --> 50:09.150 obviously led by the United States. 50:09.150 --> 50:14.150 Well, I'd like to ask, where did you get these figures 50:14.180 --> 50:16.420 and testimonies that we heard about today? 50:16.420 --> 50:19.790 When was the last time anyone who spoke today 50:19.790 --> 50:21.620 actually visited Venezuela? 50:21.620 --> 50:23.910 It turns out that you're examining the situation 50:23.910 --> 50:26.770 from a distance, based on the premise 50:27.740 --> 50:30.510 that President Guaidó is the only 50:30.510 --> 50:32.950 legitimate authority in the country and source 50:32.950 --> 50:35.940 of information about what is taking place there. 50:35.940 --> 50:39.833 And by the way, I want to say to Madame Page, 50:39.833 --> 50:44.540 who told us about a very difficult situation 50:44.540 --> 50:47.500 with healthcare in Venezuela, and in particular, 50:47.500 --> 50:51.470 she spoke of the measles epidemic. 50:51.470 --> 50:53.040 I have to say that unfortunately 50:53.040 --> 50:55.350 this epidemic is taking place. 50:55.350 --> 50:59.650 Madame Page, do you know that the authorities of New York 50:59.650 --> 51:02.990 have declared an emergency situation 51:02.990 --> 51:05.810 due to a measles epidemic that has 51:05.810 --> 51:07.950 been occurring in New York? 51:07.950 --> 51:11.963 A few hundred meters from this building, in Brooklyn. 51:14.580 --> 51:17.600 We have already seen all this in other regions 51:17.600 --> 51:20.970 in the world, from so called witnesses, 51:20.970 --> 51:23.640 who have settled in the West, and they told of 51:23.640 --> 51:26.290 blood-curdling stories about the sufferings 51:26.290 --> 51:28.600 of the nations of Iraq, Libya, and Syria, 51:28.600 --> 51:31.810 and it was precisely as a result of Western intervention 51:31.810 --> 51:35.830 in those countries that the true suffering began there, 51:35.830 --> 51:37.580 and that continues to this day. 51:37.580 --> 51:39.930 Do you want to see the same thing in Venezuela? 51:42.380 --> 51:45.710 Just as the legitimate authorities in Caracas, 51:45.710 --> 51:48.150 we do not deny that the humanitarian situation 51:48.150 --> 51:50.020 in this country is far from ideal. 51:50.020 --> 51:54.510 We are ready to work with them, to improve this situation. 51:54.510 --> 51:57.730 We are guided in this, by the provision of 51:57.730 --> 52:01.140 General Assembly Resolution 46 slash 182, 52:01.140 --> 52:04.760 which envisions inter alia the requirement 52:04.760 --> 52:07.370 of a request by the legitimate authority 52:07.370 --> 52:11.240 for providing to that government humanitarian assistance. 52:11.240 --> 52:13.840 And the Secretary of the UN should contribute to that, 52:13.840 --> 52:17.440 however, the report of OCHA has led 52:17.440 --> 52:22.440 to a dual-impression in our minds. 52:22.570 --> 52:26.240 On the one hand, it stresses the need 52:26.240 --> 52:29.010 of separating the political and humanitarian tasks 52:29.010 --> 52:30.840 in providing assistance to Venezuela. 52:30.840 --> 52:33.020 Of course we are in favor of a neutral, 52:33.020 --> 52:35.860 and impartial character of humanitarian assistance. 52:35.860 --> 52:38.350 However, on the other hand, we are disappointed 52:38.350 --> 52:41.610 that the information that has been collected 52:41.610 --> 52:44.800 and published today, has not received the, 52:44.800 --> 52:46.690 was done without the endorsement of 52:46.690 --> 52:47.870 the government of Venezuela. 52:47.870 --> 52:50.090 So it turns out that we're returning 52:50.090 --> 52:55.090 to the not very glorious past when OCHA used unverified 52:55.790 --> 52:57.830 information in publishing its reports. 52:57.830 --> 52:59.930 We would like to hope that that is not the case. 52:59.930 --> 53:03.300 Furthermore, a preparation of needs assessment 53:03.300 --> 53:07.063 is a part-and-parcel of preparation of a humanitarian 53:07.063 --> 53:10.660 plan of assistance which, in turn, can only be done 53:10.660 --> 53:13.620 with the agreement of the legitimate authorities. 53:13.620 --> 53:15.820 Not complying with this principle undermines 53:15.820 --> 53:19.150 a key aspect of resolution 46-182. 53:19.150 --> 53:22.590 Mr President, we categorically reject the methods 53:22.590 --> 53:25.730 of the United States, with regard to Venezuela. 53:25.730 --> 53:28.290 With the one hand, you're grabbing Venezuela 53:28.290 --> 53:31.720 by the throat by introducing still new sanctions 53:31.720 --> 53:34.490 and restrictions, which prevent the country 53:34.490 --> 53:35.883 from developing normally. 53:36.908 --> 53:39.460 At the same time, international assistance 53:39.460 --> 53:42.380 that is required by states should be aimed 53:42.380 --> 53:45.499 at creating a situation where a state can 53:45.499 --> 53:48.050 take care of it's own citizens. 53:48.050 --> 53:52.150 However, with the other hand, you are also 53:52.150 --> 53:54.580 picking the pockets of Venezuelans. 53:54.580 --> 53:57.820 You're shamelessly ex-appropriating Venezuelan assets 53:57.820 --> 54:00.590 in Western banks, just from the beginning of this year, 54:00.590 --> 54:03.430 you have taken some $30 billion from the country, 54:03.430 --> 54:06.750 claiming that only the self-proclaimed 54:06.750 --> 54:10.370 President Guaidó can use those funds. 54:10.370 --> 54:13.400 The overall damage from actions of the United States 54:13.400 --> 54:16.280 to the Venezuelan economy since 2013 54:16.280 --> 54:19.580 can be calculated in hundreds of billions of dollars. 54:19.580 --> 54:22.697 At the same time, you call on urgent assistance 54:22.697 --> 54:26.220 to the Venezuelan people, and I'd like to just recall that, 54:26.220 --> 54:28.690 in the United States, not everything's very smooth 54:28.690 --> 54:32.063 with humanitarian assistance per se. 54:33.230 --> 54:35.360 You still haven't overcome the consequences 54:35.360 --> 54:37.240 of the devastating hurricane Maria, 54:37.240 --> 54:40.320 which devastated Puerto Rico in the fall of 2017. 54:40.320 --> 54:42.040 At the time, there was serious problems 54:42.040 --> 54:46.580 with lack of water, food, electricity, medical assistance. 54:46.580 --> 54:50.310 Some 225,000 people were homeless. 54:50.310 --> 54:53.020 The whole harvest of vital crops was lost. 54:53.020 --> 54:54.680 The overall damage at the time, 54:54.680 --> 54:57.017 according to various estimates, was from $45 to 54:57.017 --> 54:59.053 $90 billion US dollars. 55:00.520 --> 55:02.890 At the time, Washington completely rejected 55:02.890 --> 55:04.670 international assistance. 55:04.670 --> 55:07.620 In September of 2017, President Maduro stated 55:07.620 --> 55:10.750 the readiness of Venezuela to immediately launch 55:10.750 --> 55:13.740 a program of support and solidarity to Puerto Rico, 55:13.740 --> 55:18.740 to overcome the consequences of Maria in Puerto Rico. 55:19.884 --> 55:22.540 There were proposals from Cuba, this was also 55:22.540 --> 55:23.810 rejected by Washington. 55:23.810 --> 55:26.030 As a result, Venezuela did provide assistance 55:26.030 --> 55:29.920 to Puerto Rico through Citgo, a subsidiary of PDVSA 55:29.920 --> 55:33.154 in the United States, while the Cuban government 55:33.154 --> 55:36.393 respected the rejection of the American people. 55:37.300 --> 55:40.570 Did not insist, and did not use this for propaganda 55:40.570 --> 55:42.930 purposes, even though many were 55:42.930 --> 55:45.393 unhappy with this decision in the United States. 55:46.390 --> 55:49.489 Caracas is not rejecting humanitarian assistance 55:49.489 --> 55:53.390 that is provided based on the principles 55:53.390 --> 55:55.120 approved by the United Nations. 55:55.120 --> 55:58.430 Russia, and other countries, have provided such assistance 55:58.430 --> 56:01.150 in the framework of the W.H.O. 56:01.150 --> 56:04.500 Now, what's preventing the end of the crisis 56:04.500 --> 56:09.390 in Venezuela are the sanctions and external interference 56:09.390 --> 56:11.520 of the internal affairs of the state. 56:11.520 --> 56:13.440 As for internal political differences, 56:13.440 --> 56:15.830 we are convinced that only a dialogue 56:15.830 --> 56:18.670 within Venezuela itself can overcome those differences. 56:18.670 --> 56:21.550 The United States has insistently destabilized 56:21.550 --> 56:23.020 the situation in Venezuela. 56:23.020 --> 56:24.980 They have artificially provoked a crisis 56:24.980 --> 56:28.752 in this country, in order to overthrow 56:28.752 --> 56:31.080 a legitimately elected leader and replace him 56:31.080 --> 56:33.210 with their own pawn. 56:33.210 --> 56:36.400 Examples of the blatant interference of the United States 56:36.400 --> 56:39.440 in the affairs of Latin America, in the overthrow, 56:39.440 --> 56:41.330 with a use of military force, of leaders 56:41.330 --> 56:42.280 that they didn't like. 56:42.280 --> 56:44.300 There are many, many such examples. 56:44.300 --> 56:45.310 I would like to, once again, 56:45.310 --> 56:47.910 address the neighbors of Venezuela. 56:47.910 --> 56:50.000 Haven't you learned anything from history? 56:50.000 --> 56:52.160 Don't you understand that Venezuela is merely 56:52.160 --> 56:56.090 a bargaining chip in the geo-political and geo-strategic 56:56.090 --> 57:00.330 struggle for influence in the region and the world? 57:00.330 --> 57:04.020 Very much in the spirit of a revitalized Monroe doctrine. 57:04.020 --> 57:07.860 And by the way, the attitude of Latin American countries 57:07.860 --> 57:12.170 to what is taking place in Venezuela are not as 57:12.170 --> 57:15.521 uniform and unequivocal as we've heard 57:15.521 --> 57:17.953 today from the Vice-President. 57:20.962 --> 57:23.053 It's very strange to, once again, 57:23.930 --> 57:27.550 discuss what should be a self-evident truth, 57:27.550 --> 57:32.550 that is solving the provoked crisis in Venezuela 57:33.770 --> 57:38.120 can only be through internal Venezuelan dialogue, 57:38.120 --> 57:41.880 and the self-proclaimed President has not read into this, 57:41.880 --> 57:44.210 because he didn't get instructions to that effect, 57:44.210 --> 57:46.100 but there is no other way forward. 57:46.100 --> 57:49.100 In this context, we welcome international initiatives 57:49.100 --> 57:52.810 of helping to foster dialogue between 57:52.810 --> 57:55.990 the legitimate government and leaders of the opposition. 57:55.990 --> 57:59.080 Such initiatives have come from the Latin American region. 57:59.080 --> 58:03.150 In particular, the proposal from Mexico and Uruguay, 58:03.150 --> 58:06.570 as part of the Montevideo mechanism is very promising. 58:06.570 --> 58:09.640 It provides for a comprehensive, and all-inclusive 58:09.640 --> 58:11.630 dialogue and from this point of view, 58:11.630 --> 58:14.920 it has much more chance of success than those initiatives 58:14.920 --> 58:19.920 that demand preliminary conditions to even be launched. 58:21.180 --> 58:24.660 The possibility of joining the good offices, 58:24.660 --> 58:27.500 or mediation efforts, should be open to everyone 58:27.500 --> 58:31.310 who are trying to make a constructive contribution 58:31.310 --> 58:33.980 to establishing an inclusive dialogue within Venezuela. 58:33.980 --> 58:37.010 And what is taking place in the Security Council today, 58:37.010 --> 58:40.200 unfortunately, is merely another episode 58:40.200 --> 58:43.730 of a frontal attack against the government 58:43.730 --> 58:46.650 in Caracas and ordinary Venezuelans. 58:46.650 --> 58:49.870 I'd like to recall that, in parallel with the attempts 58:49.870 --> 58:52.227 to impose humanitarian assistance, 58:52.227 --> 58:55.410 so called well-wishers are actively trying to 58:55.410 --> 58:57.950 challenge the credentials of the official Venezuela 58:57.950 --> 59:00.860 delegation, at various international platforms. 59:00.860 --> 59:03.130 We heard this today from the Vice President. 59:03.130 --> 59:06.780 I'm not going to comment on the tone of his statement, 59:06.780 --> 59:11.420 but I want to say that the permanent representative 59:11.420 --> 59:13.410 of Venezuela in this room was appointed 59:13.410 --> 59:15.720 by the legitimate government of this country, 59:15.720 --> 59:18.300 and it was confirmed by the General Assembly 59:18.300 --> 59:19.620 of the United Nations. 59:19.620 --> 59:23.530 Furthermore, these friends of Venezuela, 59:23.530 --> 59:27.310 or so-called friends, are replacing the official ambassadors 59:27.310 --> 59:31.560 of Venezuela, abetting the seizure of diplomatic property. 59:31.560 --> 59:35.120 In this way they are, what you're seeing is a blatant 59:35.120 --> 59:37.510 violation of the founding principles of the UN. 59:37.510 --> 59:40.450 The violation of the norms of international law. 59:40.450 --> 59:44.260 Perhaps, the international rule-based order 59:47.320 --> 59:50.360 that is so actively promoted by Western colleagues, 59:50.360 --> 59:53.490 provides for such lawless, thuggish, 59:53.490 --> 59:55.120 violation of international law, 59:55.120 --> 59:57.830 but we certainly, international law does not. 59:57.830 --> 01:00:01.890 We call on the United States to once again 01:00:01.890 --> 01:00:04.427 recognize that the Venezuelan people, 01:00:04.427 --> 01:00:06.340 and other peoples, have the right 01:00:06.340 --> 01:00:08.130 to determine their own future. 01:00:08.130 --> 01:00:11.410 If you want to make America great again, 01:00:11.410 --> 01:00:14.450 and we're all sincerely interested in seeing that, 01:00:14.450 --> 01:00:18.590 stop interfering in the affairs of other states. 01:00:18.590 --> 01:00:20.743 You will only gain respect from that. 01:00:21.590 --> 01:00:24.850 You don't like when others interfere in your affairs. 01:00:24.850 --> 01:00:25.930 No one likes that. 01:00:25.930 --> 01:00:26.763 Thank you. 01:00:30.446 --> 01:00:33.830 - I thank the representative of Russia, 01:00:33.830 --> 01:00:38.830 and I now give the floor to the representative of Peru. 01:00:39.010 --> 01:00:41.416 Gustavo, you have the floor. 01:00:41.416 --> 01:00:46.416 - Mr President, we'd like to thank the distinguished 01:00:47.960 --> 01:00:50.770 briefers for the very valuable information provided 01:00:50.770 --> 01:00:53.030 at today's informative briefing. 01:00:53.030 --> 01:00:56.160 This helps us, once again, to raise the alarm 01:00:56.160 --> 01:00:58.630 with regard to the serious humanitarian crisis, 01:00:58.630 --> 01:01:01.131 the collapse of the economy, and of the 01:01:01.131 --> 01:01:04.650 public service's unprecedented in Latin America. 01:01:04.650 --> 01:01:06.990 This is the situation in the Bolivarian 01:01:06.990 --> 01:01:08.550 Republic of Venezuela. 01:01:08.550 --> 01:01:10.590 In this regard, I would like to highlight that the 01:01:10.590 --> 01:01:13.840 content of this statement is shared by Argentina, 01:01:13.840 --> 01:01:18.840 Brazil, Canada, Chile, Columbia, Costa Rica, 01:01:19.240 --> 01:01:23.693 Guatemala, Honduras, Panama, and Paraguay, 01:01:24.666 --> 01:01:27.453 country members of the Lima Group. 01:01:28.400 --> 01:01:31.090 Just a few figures, with regard to the Venezuelan 01:01:31.090 --> 01:01:34.390 economy, in order to better understand the situation, 01:01:34.390 --> 01:01:37.630 such as the estimates of the International Monetary Fund, 01:01:37.630 --> 01:01:40.330 which establishes an inflation rate 01:01:40.330 --> 01:01:44.140 of one and a half million percent for 2018 alone, 01:01:44.140 --> 01:01:48.950 a drop in the GDP of 44%, since 2013, 01:01:48.950 --> 01:01:53.950 or the Living Conditions Survey of 2018, in Cavi. 01:01:55.080 --> 01:01:58.798 This is a joint project of the Central 01:01:58.798 --> 01:02:01.220 Andrés Ballo Catholic and Simón Bolivar 01:02:01.220 --> 01:02:03.673 Universities of Venezuela, which states 01:02:03.673 --> 01:02:05.550 that this brotherly country, which was, 01:02:05.550 --> 01:02:08.450 had one of the highest incomes in the region, 01:02:08.450 --> 01:02:13.450 now keeps 94% of its citizens in a situation of poverty, 01:02:14.540 --> 01:02:16.900 60% of them in extreme poverty, 01:02:16.900 --> 01:02:21.900 with 80% of them at risk of food insecurity, 01:02:21.900 --> 01:02:25.483 because they don't have sufficient income to buy food. 01:02:28.150 --> 01:02:31.600 Thus, whilst the illegitimate regime of Nicolás Maduro 01:02:32.550 --> 01:02:35.230 hides these figures that show that the economy 01:02:35.230 --> 01:02:37.840 of Venezuela is in free fall, and boasts 01:02:37.840 --> 01:02:40.890 that Venezuela does not need humanitarian aid, 01:02:40.890 --> 01:02:45.890 the hospitals are collapsing without vaccines or medicines. 01:02:46.010 --> 01:02:47.910 We're seeing a resurgence of diseases 01:02:47.910 --> 01:02:52.910 that had been eradicated; an increase in unemployment. 01:02:53.110 --> 01:02:54.730 A sharp increase. 01:02:54.730 --> 01:02:57.201 Cities are becoming more violent. 01:02:57.201 --> 01:03:02.090 Electricity and water provision are collapsing, 01:03:02.090 --> 01:03:07.090 and the brain drain is offering an even darker 01:03:07.390 --> 01:03:09.330 future of great concern. 01:03:09.330 --> 01:03:11.940 All of this is the responsibility of a regimen 01:03:11.940 --> 01:03:14.090 that has been declared illegitimate 01:03:14.090 --> 01:03:17.270 by the Organization of American States, 01:03:17.270 --> 01:03:20.960 through a resolution of its permanent council. 01:03:20.960 --> 01:03:25.870 An authoritative regime which silences the media, 01:03:25.870 --> 01:03:29.980 which represses and imprisons the opposition, 01:03:29.980 --> 01:03:33.400 and which abuses its absolute power. 01:03:33.400 --> 01:03:37.850 In this context, migration currently stands 01:03:37.850 --> 01:03:42.850 at 3.5 million people, with 5,000 new emigrants 01:03:43.170 --> 01:03:46.570 on a daily basis, which presupposes 01:03:46.570 --> 01:03:49.400 an enormous challenge for the host countries, 01:03:49.400 --> 01:03:52.520 in terms of providing healthcare, education, 01:03:52.520 --> 01:03:55.163 housing, employment, and integration. 01:03:56.650 --> 01:03:59.040 We should point out, that countries of the region 01:03:59.040 --> 01:04:03.660 have earmarked significant domestic contingency resources, 01:04:03.660 --> 01:04:05.930 to provide these social services to 01:04:05.930 --> 01:04:10.140 hundreds of thousands of Venezuelans, that we have hosted. 01:04:10.140 --> 01:04:13.593 In some cases, this is going beyond our capacity. 01:04:14.630 --> 01:04:16.590 How did we arrive at this situation? 01:04:16.590 --> 01:04:18.330 The answer is clear. 01:04:18.330 --> 01:04:21.790 This crisis, unprecedented in history, 01:04:21.790 --> 01:04:25.850 is due to the illegitimate nature, and oppressive nature, 01:04:25.850 --> 01:04:29.710 of a regime which has added to the breakdown 01:04:29.710 --> 01:04:31.930 of constitutional order and the rule of law. 01:04:31.930 --> 01:04:35.220 It's incompetence in managing the economy, 01:04:35.220 --> 01:04:40.220 corruption, and the illicit diversion of resources 01:04:41.310 --> 01:04:43.950 turning a prosperous and mighty country, 01:04:43.950 --> 01:04:46.120 such as Venezuela, into one that harbors 01:04:46.120 --> 01:04:48.083 poverty, insecurity, and despair. 01:04:50.040 --> 01:04:53.400 There is now a pressing need to provide 01:04:53.400 --> 01:04:56.220 humanitarian assistance to alleviate the suffering 01:04:56.220 --> 01:04:58.665 of millions of Venezuelans, and clearly, 01:04:58.665 --> 01:05:01.240 the situation cannot be controlled by, 01:05:01.240 --> 01:05:03.530 or entrusted to, an illegitimate regime, 01:05:03.530 --> 01:05:07.770 which uses aid solely for the purposes 01:05:07.770 --> 01:05:09.510 of politics and propaganda. 01:05:09.510 --> 01:05:12.130 In the short term, it's urgent that we channel 01:05:12.130 --> 01:05:15.850 humanitarian assistance through the United Nations system, 01:05:15.850 --> 01:05:18.950 and the International Red Cross, 01:05:18.950 --> 01:05:21.720 possibly with the support and participation 01:05:21.720 --> 01:05:26.720 of local and international NGOs on the ground. 01:05:27.010 --> 01:05:31.440 This will make it possible to be impartial and independent 01:05:31.440 --> 01:05:35.160 and ensure that the assistance reaches 01:05:35.160 --> 01:05:36.500 those that most need it. 01:05:36.500 --> 01:05:38.800 This urgent and necessary response should not 01:05:38.800 --> 01:05:43.610 lead us to forget, however, that it's only a palliative 01:05:43.610 --> 01:05:48.160 to the genuine solution to the problem in Venezuela, 01:05:48.160 --> 01:05:50.380 the impact of which in the region, 01:05:50.380 --> 01:05:53.180 is threatening peace and security. 01:05:53.180 --> 01:05:57.310 This solution involves the restoration of democracy 01:05:57.310 --> 01:06:01.810 and the rule of law in the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, 01:06:01.810 --> 01:06:05.720 led by the Venezuelan's themselves, in a peaceful manner, 01:06:05.720 --> 01:06:10.100 in the framework of the constitution and international law, 01:06:10.100 --> 01:06:13.960 supported by politicians and diplomats, 01:06:13.960 --> 01:06:15.970 and without the use of force. 01:06:15.970 --> 01:06:20.850 We reaffirm, therefore, our recognition of support for 01:06:20.850 --> 01:06:24.540 the National Assembly, the Interim President of Venezuela, 01:06:24.540 --> 01:06:27.853 Juan Guaidó, and his representatives. 01:06:30.090 --> 01:06:32.120 Taking up this mandate, we call upon 01:06:32.120 --> 01:06:34.770 the international community and the members of this council 01:06:34.770 --> 01:06:37.470 to accompany the countries of the Lima Group 01:06:37.470 --> 01:06:40.450 in our efforts to attempt to reestablish 01:06:40.450 --> 01:06:44.180 constitutional order in the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela 01:06:44.180 --> 01:06:47.831 in order to address the deep-seated causes 01:06:47.831 --> 01:06:50.876 that have lead to the serious humanitarian situation, 01:06:50.876 --> 01:06:52.942 about which we're meeting today. 01:06:52.942 --> 01:06:54.023 Thank you. 01:06:54.023 --> 01:06:56.570 - I thank the representative of Peru, 01:06:56.570 --> 01:06:58.667 and I give the floor to the representative 01:06:58.667 --> 01:07:01.319 of the Dominican Republic. 01:07:01.319 --> 01:07:03.171 José, you have the floor. 01:07:03.171 --> 01:07:08.171 - Mr President, we would like to thank you 01:07:08.630 --> 01:07:11.210 for having facilitated this meeting. 01:07:11.210 --> 01:07:14.070 It's important that this council take up, again, 01:07:14.070 --> 01:07:18.623 the situation of Venezuela, in light of recent events. 01:07:19.590 --> 01:07:22.650 In particular, we deplore the fact, 01:07:22.650 --> 01:07:27.650 and we are concerned at the conditions in the country, 01:07:28.850 --> 01:07:31.270 which has worsened the humanitarian crisis 01:07:31.270 --> 01:07:33.880 affecting millions of Venezuelans, and which continues 01:07:33.880 --> 01:07:36.537 to drive many of them to leave their country, 01:07:36.537 --> 01:07:41.537 in search of better possibilities for subsistence. 01:07:41.840 --> 01:07:45.180 According to the FAO, 11.7% of the population 01:07:45.180 --> 01:07:47.033 of Venezuela is undernourished. 01:07:48.830 --> 01:07:52.990 Also, in recent years, there's been a dramatic increase 01:07:52.990 --> 01:07:56.720 in the proportion of people living in poverty. 01:07:56.720 --> 01:08:00.160 Every day, millions of Venezuelans face 01:08:00.160 --> 01:08:05.160 unprecedented challenges in order to access basic services, 01:08:06.830 --> 01:08:09.900 such as health, medicines, vaccines, 01:08:09.900 --> 01:08:12.393 water, electricity, and education. 01:08:14.330 --> 01:08:17.600 Diseases such as tuberculosis, diptheria, 01:08:17.600 --> 01:08:21.010 measles and malaria have surged throughout the country. 01:08:21.010 --> 01:08:24.170 In recent weeks, the situation has become 01:08:24.170 --> 01:08:27.620 even more complicated due to power outages, 01:08:27.620 --> 01:08:30.360 throughout virtually all of the country, 01:08:30.360 --> 01:08:32.300 which have gone on for several days. 01:08:32.300 --> 01:08:34.083 The results have been disastrous. 01:08:35.480 --> 01:08:38.500 We've seen tragic situations in hospitals, 01:08:38.500 --> 01:08:42.340 where the lack of electricity has forced medical staff 01:08:42.340 --> 01:08:45.290 very often to work without the minimum conditions 01:08:45.290 --> 01:08:48.650 for hygiene and equipment. 01:08:48.650 --> 01:08:51.900 The lack of water is another dramatic consequence 01:08:51.900 --> 01:08:53.343 of these blackouts. 01:08:54.990 --> 01:08:58.220 In the same way, in very many places, 01:08:58.220 --> 01:09:01.560 there has been a temporary suspension of classes 01:09:01.560 --> 01:09:05.140 and work activities, which is having an impact 01:09:05.140 --> 01:09:08.180 on the country's productivity and contributing 01:09:08.180 --> 01:09:10.493 to its worsening economic situation. 01:09:14.530 --> 01:09:17.470 Against this backdrop, there is no sign 01:09:17.470 --> 01:09:19.740 of a significant improvement in the situation 01:09:19.740 --> 01:09:21.100 in the short term. 01:09:21.100 --> 01:09:24.880 Mr President, the crisis in Venezuela cannot be 01:09:24.880 --> 01:09:28.603 solved solely through humanitarian assistance. 01:09:29.630 --> 01:09:34.630 It is urgent that we find the conditions to carry out 01:09:36.120 --> 01:09:38.590 practical negotiation which will lead to 01:09:38.590 --> 01:09:43.590 a solution to the crisis, through a fair free 01:09:44.890 --> 01:09:47.720 and competitive electoral process 01:09:47.720 --> 01:09:52.073 with guarantees for all groups and political actors, 01:09:53.070 --> 01:09:56.490 with the support of the international community, 01:09:56.490 --> 01:10:01.023 and in a climate of respect for human rights. 01:10:02.480 --> 01:10:07.480 We also must insist that this should be a solution 01:10:08.890 --> 01:10:13.143 that is led by the Venezuelans themselves, 01:10:15.350 --> 01:10:17.863 and achieved in a peaceful manner. 01:10:19.810 --> 01:10:23.140 We reiterate our firm willingness to work together 01:10:23.140 --> 01:10:24.980 with the international community, 01:10:24.980 --> 01:10:29.743 in order to help Venezuela find answers to this crisis. 01:10:30.730 --> 01:10:35.115 Democratic answers, in line with the rule of law, 01:10:35.115 --> 01:10:38.120 internally as well as internationally, 01:10:38.120 --> 01:10:41.840 and which, above all, will open the door 01:10:41.840 --> 01:10:45.080 for the rebuilding of Venezuelan society, 01:10:45.080 --> 01:10:48.643 in a spirit of cohesion, and a vision for the future. 01:10:49.610 --> 01:10:54.610 Mr President, aware as we are of the central role 01:10:54.640 --> 01:10:57.810 that the States play in humanitarian action, 01:10:57.810 --> 01:11:01.240 and with a view to bringing about a substantive increase 01:11:01.240 --> 01:11:03.740 in humanitarian assistance for the country, 01:11:03.740 --> 01:11:06.690 we would urgently call on the Venezuelan authorities 01:11:06.690 --> 01:11:09.750 to recognize the serious economic situation 01:11:09.750 --> 01:11:12.250 in which the country finds itself. 01:11:12.250 --> 01:11:16.500 In this regard, we would encourage them to establish 01:11:16.500 --> 01:11:20.300 spaces for coordination and for humanitarian action, 01:11:20.300 --> 01:11:24.580 with actors on the ground, supported by the 01:11:24.580 --> 01:11:28.810 humanitarian principles, humanity, impartiality, 01:11:28.810 --> 01:11:32.540 neutrality, and independence, to ensure 01:11:32.540 --> 01:11:36.190 that the aid reaches the populations that most need it 01:11:36.190 --> 01:11:37.570 and that are most vulnerable. 01:11:37.570 --> 01:11:39.450 We recognize the work that has been done 01:11:39.450 --> 01:11:41.510 in the framework of the Coordination Team 01:11:41.510 --> 01:11:44.601 for Cooperation and Assistance, ECA, 01:11:44.601 --> 01:11:47.600 in order to alleviate existing needs, 01:11:47.600 --> 01:11:50.970 and we call upon all players, including government 01:11:50.970 --> 01:11:55.970 authorities, to continue working on humanitarian action 01:11:59.050 --> 01:12:01.430 that is people focused. 01:12:01.430 --> 01:12:05.010 All actions should address the priority needs 01:12:05.010 --> 01:12:09.350 of Venezuelans, with an approach that will make it possible 01:12:09.350 --> 01:12:12.560 to lay the basis for steering the country back 01:12:12.560 --> 01:12:15.920 to sustainable development, and make it possible 01:12:15.920 --> 01:12:20.020 to see the return of 3.4 million Venezuelans, 01:12:20.020 --> 01:12:22.593 who were forced to leave their country. 01:12:23.450 --> 01:12:26.557 We believe that the recent agreement, 01:12:26.557 --> 01:12:29.750 achieved by the International Federation of the Red Cross 01:12:29.750 --> 01:12:32.640 to broaden its humanitarian action in the country, 01:12:32.640 --> 01:12:34.600 is an encouraging step. 01:12:34.600 --> 01:12:39.600 Despite the fact that the 650,000 people awaiting aid 01:12:41.270 --> 01:12:43.810 are only a fraction of the total number 01:12:43.810 --> 01:12:45.653 that require immediate assistance. 01:12:46.500 --> 01:12:49.580 We are sure that this will only be the first step 01:12:49.580 --> 01:12:52.800 on the path towards the opening up of new initiatives 01:12:52.800 --> 01:12:55.750 and measures, which will have a positive impact 01:12:55.750 --> 01:12:57.393 on the life of Venezuelans. 01:12:58.360 --> 01:13:02.990 We would also like to stress the need 01:13:02.990 --> 01:13:07.990 to make the mechanisms for entry into the country 01:13:08.040 --> 01:13:10.060 of authorized personnel more agile, 01:13:10.060 --> 01:13:12.800 and that they have unlimited access to the areas 01:13:12.800 --> 01:13:14.450 that are most vulnerable. 01:13:14.450 --> 01:13:17.200 We support the broadening of the United Nations 01:13:17.200 --> 01:13:20.270 presence on the ground, and call upon 01:13:20.270 --> 01:13:23.060 the international community to ensure 01:13:23.060 --> 01:13:27.210 that the necessary financial resources are available 01:13:28.090 --> 01:13:30.820 to provide the humanitarian assistance 01:13:30.820 --> 01:13:33.170 that Venezuela so sorely needs. 01:13:33.170 --> 01:13:35.460 In conclusion, we would call upon the members 01:13:35.460 --> 01:13:39.700 of this council to maintain their focus 01:13:39.700 --> 01:13:43.120 on improving the humanitarian situation in Venezuela, 01:13:43.120 --> 01:13:47.440 to promote the principles in the charter, 01:13:47.440 --> 01:13:50.140 and international humanitarian law, 01:13:50.140 --> 01:13:52.910 and to strengthen the role of the United Nations 01:13:52.910 --> 01:13:57.660 in the process of negotiation for a solution 01:13:57.660 --> 01:13:59.790 to this very serious crisis. 01:13:59.790 --> 01:14:00.790 Thank you very much. 01:14:02.610 --> 01:14:04.120 - I thank the ambassador of the Dominican 01:14:04.120 --> 01:14:05.500 Republic for his statement. 01:14:05.500 --> 01:14:08.963 I give the floor to the representative of China. 01:14:10.105 --> 01:14:12.355 Zhaoxu, you have the floor. 01:14:14.850 --> 01:14:16.293 - Thank you, Mr President. 01:14:18.480 --> 01:14:21.150 China has been following the developments 01:14:21.150 --> 01:14:23.420 in Venezuela closely. 01:14:23.420 --> 01:14:25.520 China supports the Venezuelan government 01:14:25.520 --> 01:14:27.890 in it's efforts to uphold its national sovereignty, 01:14:27.890 --> 01:14:32.490 independence and stability, and holds 01:14:32.490 --> 01:14:36.070 that the Venezuelan affairs should be handled independently 01:14:36.070 --> 01:14:38.610 by the Venezuelan people themselves. 01:14:38.610 --> 01:14:41.430 China calls upon the Venezuelan government, 01:14:41.430 --> 01:14:44.686 and opposition parties, to seek a political solution, 01:14:44.686 --> 01:14:47.150 through dialogue and consultation 01:14:47.150 --> 01:14:49.453 within the constitutional and legal framework. 01:14:52.300 --> 01:14:57.300 Mr President, China's position on the Security Council's 01:14:57.810 --> 01:14:59.770 involvement in the Venezuelan issue 01:14:59.770 --> 01:15:02.570 has been consistently clear. 01:15:02.570 --> 01:15:05.450 Our point of departure is, as always, 01:15:05.450 --> 01:15:08.580 to uphold the spirit of the UN charter, 01:15:08.580 --> 01:15:11.810 and the basic norms governing international relations 01:15:12.680 --> 01:15:17.560 promote a peaceful settlement of the Venezuelan issue 01:15:17.560 --> 01:15:21.910 and maintain longterm peace and development 01:15:21.910 --> 01:15:23.053 in Latin America. 01:15:24.530 --> 01:15:27.370 China opposes external forces interfering 01:15:27.370 --> 01:15:29.710 in Venezuela's internal affairs, 01:15:29.710 --> 01:15:34.693 opposes military intervention in Venezuela, 01:15:35.820 --> 01:15:39.760 and opposes using the so-called humanitarian issue 01:15:39.760 --> 01:15:41.423 to achieve political aims. 01:15:42.670 --> 01:15:47.670 History has proven repeatedly that unilateral sanctions 01:15:47.810 --> 01:15:50.600 will only further complicate situations, 01:15:50.600 --> 01:15:53.930 and affect people's everyday life. 01:15:53.930 --> 01:15:56.653 It won't help resolve problems, 01:15:59.160 --> 01:16:02.120 nor will it bring peace to a country. 01:16:02.120 --> 01:16:05.110 On the one hand, we hear tall talks, 01:16:05.110 --> 01:16:07.790 to care about the well-being of the Venezuelans, 01:16:07.790 --> 01:16:09.790 and on the other hand, we are seeing 01:16:09.790 --> 01:16:12.253 increasingly tighter sanctions on the country. 01:16:13.100 --> 01:16:15.380 They don't seem to reconcile well. 01:16:15.380 --> 01:16:17.053 The motive is dubious. 01:16:19.630 --> 01:16:23.060 To help it's people overcome temporary difficulties, 01:16:23.060 --> 01:16:27.220 China has decided to provide emergency aid 01:16:27.220 --> 01:16:30.780 of civilian goods to Venezuela. 01:16:30.780 --> 01:16:33.300 The relevant supplies are on their way 01:16:33.300 --> 01:16:35.770 to Venezuela in batches. 01:16:35.770 --> 01:16:38.740 On March the 29th, the first batch of medicines 01:16:38.740 --> 01:16:40.820 and medical supplies were delivered 01:16:40.820 --> 01:16:42.573 to the Venezuelan government. 01:16:44.279 --> 01:16:48.370 China's assistance to Venezuela is in keeping with 01:16:48.370 --> 01:16:51.110 it's long held principle of performing aid. 01:16:51.110 --> 01:16:54.710 It is intended to help Venezuelan people overcome 01:16:56.540 --> 01:16:59.830 negative impacts caused by external interferences 01:16:59.830 --> 01:17:03.253 and sanctions with no political conditions attached. 01:17:04.420 --> 01:17:08.210 China will continue it's cooperation with Venezuela, 01:17:08.210 --> 01:17:10.430 based on the principles of a mutual respect, 01:17:10.430 --> 01:17:13.140 equality, mutual benefits, and a common development 01:17:14.370 --> 01:17:16.963 for the greater well-being of the two peoples. 01:17:18.090 --> 01:17:22.840 Mr President, the peace and stability of Venezuela 01:17:23.905 --> 01:17:27.070 is in the fundamental interests 01:17:27.070 --> 01:17:28.950 of the country and its people. 01:17:28.950 --> 01:17:31.980 It also serves the common interests of all parties. 01:17:31.980 --> 01:17:34.220 We hope that the international community 01:17:34.220 --> 01:17:37.260 will do things that are truly conducive 01:17:37.260 --> 01:17:40.110 to the stability, economic development, 01:17:40.110 --> 01:17:43.030 and a better livelihood in Venezuela, 01:17:43.030 --> 01:17:46.500 and will enter the premise of respecting the sovereignty 01:17:46.500 --> 01:17:49.350 of Venezuela, provide constructive assistance 01:17:49.350 --> 01:17:53.870 to the country, and promote smooth settlement 01:17:53.870 --> 01:17:56.070 of relevant issues as soon as possible. 01:17:56.070 --> 01:17:58.610 We hope that relevant countries will promptly 01:17:58.610 --> 01:18:00.993 lift unilateral sanctions on Venezuela, 01:18:02.340 --> 01:18:06.320 create normal conditions for it's economic 01:18:06.320 --> 01:18:11.320 and social development, and lend help and support 01:18:12.300 --> 01:18:14.770 to the country in accordance with the basic principles 01:18:14.770 --> 01:18:16.903 of the UN humanitarian assistance. 01:18:18.890 --> 01:18:22.282 Earlier, in it's intervention, the US representative 01:18:22.282 --> 01:18:27.282 leveled unfounded accusation because of his position 01:18:27.870 --> 01:18:32.060 on this agenda item, which China categorically rejects. 01:18:32.060 --> 01:18:34.390 As is common knowledge, China has all along 01:18:34.390 --> 01:18:36.630 maintained friendly and cooperative relations 01:18:36.630 --> 01:18:38.650 with other countries around the world, 01:18:38.650 --> 01:18:41.080 Venezuela included, on the basis 01:18:41.080 --> 01:18:44.440 of the five principles of peaceful coexistence. 01:18:44.440 --> 01:18:48.150 We support the people of various countries 01:18:48.150 --> 01:18:50.280 independently choosing a development path 01:18:50.280 --> 01:18:52.280 that caters to their national realities. 01:18:52.280 --> 01:18:55.620 We never interfere in other countries internal affairs, 01:18:55.620 --> 01:18:59.660 nor do we impose on other countries. 01:18:59.660 --> 01:19:01.810 Member states of the Security Council, 01:19:01.810 --> 01:19:05.330 should faithfully abide by the purposes and principles 01:19:05.330 --> 01:19:07.960 of the UN charter, and the universally recognized 01:19:07.960 --> 01:19:10.410 norms of international relations, 01:19:10.410 --> 01:19:14.340 and genuinely respect the choice of other countries' 01:19:14.340 --> 01:19:17.620 peoples to do more practical and conducive things 01:19:17.620 --> 01:19:21.280 for the people of Venezuela, rather than the opposite. 01:19:21.280 --> 01:19:22.683 I thank you, Mr President.