, the International Contact Group, the European Union, the United States and other adherent nations on Friday issued a joint declaration in support of the democratic transition in Venezuela.
Both, Venezuelans and the international community, have made proposals to achieve this goal. Said process must include the ability of the National Assembly to fully carry out its functions, as well as the restoration of the independence of the Supreme Court of Justice and the National Electoral Council, the statement said.
The discussions and progress made in the negotiations facilitated by Norway in Barbados should also serve as the basis for the way forward.
"We reiterate the willingness of all those countries maintaining economic sanctions to discuss sanctions relief in the context of political progress," read the document.
"The current pandemic and Venezuela's overwhelmed public health care system have added urgency to the need to end the status quo. We are committed to continue our efforts to assist Venezuelans facing the pandemic and the previously existing humanitarian crisis on the basis of need, not political affiliation," it said.
Thus, "we call for an end to all political persecution and acts of repression. Human rights defenders, humanitarian actors, health workers, journalists, members of Venezuela's indigenous communities,
members of the National Assembly under the leadership of Juan Guaido, and the Venezuelan population at large have all faced increased repression in Venezuela."
The acceding countries are Albania, Australia, Bahamas, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, South Korea, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, United States, Estonia, Georgia, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Israel, Latvia, Lithuania, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, United Kingdom, Dominican Republic, Saint Lucia and Ukraine.