Japan, Peru Agree to Seek Venezuela’s Democratization

August 15, 2018

Sao Paulo- Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono and his Peruvian counterpart, Nestor Popolizio, agreed Tuesday to urge Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro's dictatorial regime to promote democratization.

"Venezuela needs to fulfill accountability to the international community about economic, social and many other issues," Kono told a press conference after meeting with Popolizio in Lima, Peru.

"We agreed to continue demanding the restoration of democracy that involves wide public participation," Kono said.

Peru leads the Lima Group of Latin American countries plus Canada demanding Venezuela's shift to democracy.

Popolizio said he and Kono reaffirmed the importance of free trade and multilateralism at a time when protectionism is gaining ground.

Apparently speaking of U.S. President Donald Trump's protectionist drive, the Peruvian minister expressed his resolve to fight protectionism through the Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade agreement and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum, of which both Japan and Peru are members. Jiji Press