President Piñera welcomes the partial entry of humanitarian aid into Venezuela and reiterates the call to restore democracy
During a visit to the Colombian city of Cúcuta, Presidents Piñera of Chile and Iván Duque of Colombia joined Interim President of Venezuela Juan Guaidó in supervising attempts to ensure that humanitarian aid was delivered across the border.
President Sebastián Piñera stated on Saturday that he welcomed the partial entry of food and medicine into Venezuela and reiterated the need for democracy to be restored.
“Today the entire world saw that the humanitarian aid is available and that the Venezuelan people is bravely and decisively trying to make sure that that aid enters Venezuela because it is absolutely necessary and urgent,” the President said in Cúcuta.
“Today has been a very important day, but the struggle will undoubtedly go on,” President Piñera explained at the border. He added that Nicolás Maduro is part of the problem that Venezuelans are facing each day, and that he has caused pain and suffering. President Piñera also called for free elections to be held.
During his two-day visit, President Piñera participated in the “Venezuela Aid Live” concert and visited the humanitarian aid collection center at the border. He also met with Colombian President Iván Duque, Interim President of Venezuela Juan Guaidó, Paraguayan President Mario Abdo and Secretary-General of the Organization of American States Luis Almagro to work on ensuring that necessary items reach the Venezuelan people.
President Piñera reiterated the need for democracy to be restored in Venezuela and the importance of taking all steps in a peaceful manner. “I believe that this is an irreversible process. The days of the dictatorship are numbered, because no dictatorship can stop the irrepressible, powerful and noble force of freedom and the search for democracy of the Venezuelan people,” he said.
The Chilean government contributed to the international humanitarian effort by sending 8.6 tons of aid, including medicines and food items identified as necessary by Ministry of Health specialists, from Santiago on a Hercules plane.
“The Colombian government’s attitude towards collaborating on this noble crusade and President Guaidó’s attitude of peacefully working to do everything in his reach to make sure that the humanitarian aid reaches the Venezuelan people is something that the entire world should recognize, appreciate and be grateful for,” he emphasized.