Juan González, White House adviser for Latin America, reiterated that lifting economic sanctions on Venezuela is ruled out until there is an agreement that leads to free elections.
“Lifting the sanctions would only line the pockets of the regime.” so what warned González in an interview with Erik Schatzker, at the Bloomberg New Economy Gateway Latin America forum.
Rule out lifting sanctions
González stated: “If there is a negotiated result that leads to ambitious, irreversible and concrete steps towards free and fair elections, then the United States and the international community will ease the pressure.”
He also said that easing sectoral sanctions would not improve the lives of Venezuelans. This, in response to those who ask for the lifting of certain measures, arguing that they exacerbate the economic and humanitarian crisis in the country.
“There are still a lot of people in Venezuela who are rich, who go to the malls and are doing very well. But for normal Venezuelans, if you leave Caracas, and even within Caracas, the lifting of sanctions will only line the pockets of the regime,” he said.
“What we need has to be accompanied by concrete steps. And I’m not talking about regime change, I’m talking about clear steps that level the electoral point, for the release of political prisoners, the validation of political parties. There is ample information on steps that are practical, that move the ball forward in terms of democratic freedoms in Venezuela, and that is what the international community should focus on and try to encourage and support,” he added.
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Advisor to Biden Juan González: “Unilaterally lifting the sanctions is not going to improve the lives of Venezuelans, it will only fill the pockets of the regime” – @monitorhttps://t.co/fJ08Z4CWOJ pic.twitter.com/nSnI2byICR– Report Now (@ReporteYa) May 19, 2022