Andina

Permanent Rep to OAS: U.S. thanks Peru for welcoming Venezuelan migrants

Photo: ANDINA/Archive

Photo: ANDINA/Archive

10:34 | Lima, Oct. 7.

The United States, through its Secretary of State Antony Blinken, thanked Peru for having received 1.2 million Venezuelan citizens in an effort to welcome an important number of refugees, the Permanent Representative of Peru to the Organization of American States (OAS) Harold Forsyth affirmed.

In statements to Andina news agency on Thursday, the diplomat said this recognition took place in the morning during the Lima Ministerial Meeting on the Los Angeles Declaration on Migration and Protection, which was chaired by the representative of the U.S. diplomacy.

"The important point is that Secretary of State Antony Blinken congratulated Peru for welcoming 1.2 million Venezuelans in the country. This has been a huge effort on our part, which has generated costs of all kinds," Forsyth explained.

"At the same time, it is interesting that the enormous effort of Peru, which at the time opened the doors to Venezuelan refugees, has been recognized," he added.

In this regard, the Permanent Representative to the OAS remarked that the issue of migration is still being discussed and there is no definitive agreement, taking into account that this issue looks the same in all countries across the Americas.

Likewise, the Ambassador expressed his confidence that the international community will become aware of the efforts made by the Peruvian Government in order to welcome this large number of foreign citizens, as Ecuador and Colombia have done.

On the other hand, Forsyth underlined that an intense work is being carried out, together with the General Assembly and Foreign Affairs Minister Cesar Landa, who presides it over, so as to assess and approve some agreements.

In addition, he highlighted the presence of the U.S. Secretary of State, as well as other foreign affairs ministers from OAS Member States. In fact, the presence of high-ranking officials in Lima has reached a record high.

(END) JCC/JCR/RMB/MVB

Published: 10/7/2022