The unrestricted invitation to all member countries of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) has led to internal controversy in Argentina, although President Alberto Fernandez has defended the need to build bridges with all governments and to comply with the established protocols.
CELAC brings together more than thirty countries in the region, some of which have been recurrent targets of criticism for alleged human rights violations and democratic setbacks. However, Fernandez has always defended that, as the current president of this community, he cannot discriminate.
Thus, the president of Venezuela, Nicolas Maduro, is «more than invited» to Argentina, as Fernandez has defended in a recent interview to the Brazilian newspaper ‘Folha de Sao Paulo». The Argentinean president has advocated for «stimulating» the dialogue between the opposition and Chavism, so that «Venezuelans may decide things among Venezuelans».
The Argentine opposition, however, has demanded that Maduro be arrested as soon as he arrives in Argentina. For former President Mauricio Macri, the arrival of Maduro and his Cuban counterpart, Miguel Díaz-Canel, is a reason for «shame», since it implies associating Argentina with other countries «where there is persecution, torture, narco-terrorism, political prisoners and fraudulent elections that make a mockery of democracy».
«To make it very clear: the welcome to these dictators was not organized by us Argentines, but by a government that languishes in its mediocrity, one that will soon bear the unfortunate honor of having been the worst government in the history of our country’s democracy,» Macri has emphasized in his Facebook account.
On the other hand, Díaz-Canel has highlighted after landing in the South American country the «ties of friendship, solidarity and cooperation» that unite Cuba and Argentina. «I keep fond memories of my first visit to the homeland of Che and unforgettable displays of affection towards Fidel and Cuba,» he said on his Twitter account, along with an image of the official reception.
Source: (EUROPA PRESS)
