Peru's Foreign Affairs Minister Cayetana Aljovin said President Nicolas Maduro would no longer be welcome at the Summit of the Americas —on April 13 and 14 in Lima— after Venezuela's decision to hold early presidential elections.
According to the senior official, the Peruvian Government's decision was backed by foreign affairs ministers and representatives of the Group.
"I want to inform that the Peruvian Government, with the support of the Lima Group and in accordance with the 2001 Quebec Declaration [...] decided to express, with respect to the invitation of President Nicolas Maduro to the Summit of the Americas in Lima, that his presence will no longer be welcome in said meeting," Aljovin stated.
The minister recalled the
Declaration of Quebec City states that any unconstitutional alteration of the democratic order in a state of the Hemisphere constitutes an insurmountable obstacle to the participation of that state's government in the Summit of the Americas process.
So far there was no confirmation of Maduro's presence at the Summit. Nevertheless, Venezuelan Foreign Affairs Minister Jorge Arreaza said the President will attend this meeting.
(END) JCR/FHG/RMB