EUROPEAN PARLIAMENTARY SOLIDARITY DELEGATION IN VENEZUELA

On the occasion of the recall referendum to be held on 15 August, a
delegation of parliamentarians from 7 European countries arrived in
Venezuela this week. The parliamentarians taking part in this delegation
have strongly opposed the several undemocratic attempts by the opposition
to overthrow President Hugo Chavez and to put an end to the effort of the
progressive sectors and the Venezuelan government to build a more just and
democratic society. In Caracas the European parliamentary delegation will
coordinate with parliamentarians from Latin American countries.

The parliamentary delegation has as objectives:
– to express its support for democracy in Venezuela
and for the political and social transformations undertaken by the
government of President Hugo Chavez representing a significant effort to
construct an alternative to neo-liberalism;
– to express support for the foreign policy of the
Government of Venezuela, aimed at achieving the real integration of Latin
America and at securing peace in the region;
– to express their opposition to any attempt to
destabilize Venezuelan democracy, like as occurred in April 2002 with the
support of the United States and the tacit approval of the Spanish
Presidency of the EU and to reject any form of foreign intervention;
– to express, as progressive parliamentarians, respect
for the decision of the National Electoral Council concerning the outcome
of the referendum

Composition of the European branch of delegation:

Parlamentarians:
– Mr. Vittorio Agnoletto, Italy, Member of the European
Parliament for the United Left Group (GUE/NGL), former coordinator of the
European Social Forum of Geneva, and former member of the International
Council of the World Social Forum of Porto Alegre
– Mr. Josy Dubié, Belgium, Member for the ECOLO party, former
president of the Justice Committee in the Senate
– Mrs. Sahra Wagenknecht, Germany, Member of the European
Parliament for the United Left Group (GUE/NGL)
– Mr. Jaromir Kohicek, Czech Republic, Member of the European
Parliament for the United Left Group (GUE/NGL),
– Mrs. Sfia Bouarfa, Belgium, Senator for the Socialist Party
(PS), President of the Belgium-Venezuela Committee of the IPU,
– Mr. Athanassios Pafilis, Greece, Member of the European
Parliament for the United Left Group (GUE/NGL),
– Mr. Jean Cornil, Belgium, Senator for the Socialist Party (PS),
– Mrs. Ilda Figueiredo, Portugal, Member of the European
Parliament for the United Left Group (GUE/NGL),
– Mrs Isaura Navarro Casillas, Spain, Deputy of the National
Parliament
for IU
– Mr. Giusto Catania, Italy (Sicily), Member of the European
Parliament for the United Left Group (GUE/NGL),