South American governments have rejected an effort by US lawmakers to apply sanctions on Venezuela over human rights concerns.
Foreign ministers from the 12-member Union of South American Nations issued a statement yesterday saying that the proposed legislation would constitute a violation of Venezuela's internal affairs and undermine attempts by regional diplomats and the Vatican to foster dialogue between the government and opposition.
Sanctions represent "an obstacle for the Venezuelan people can overcome their difficulties with independence, and in democratic peace," according to a statement after a meeting in the Galapagos Islands in Ecuador.
The US House of Representatives on Wednesday is expected to debate a bipartisan bill that would order the Obama administration to ban visas and freeze the assets of Venezuelan officials who have committed abuses during the past three months of unrest. Similar legislation has already cleared the Senate foreign relations committee.
The Obama administration has condemned President Nicolas Maduro's crackdown on protests but wants to hold off on applying sanctions to give more time to dialogue.
