Panama calls Venezuela to explain motives for OAS move

PANAMA’S Minister of Foreign Affairs has spoken to Venezuelan Foreign Minister Elías Jaua in an effort to explain Panama's reasons for asking the Organization of American States (OAS) to call a meeting of foreign ministers to discuss events in Venezuela.

Franciso Alvarez de Soto's announcement came a day after Venezuela President Nicolás Maduro accused Panama of speaking with the foreign ministers of the region without consulting Venezuela.

Panama is the smallest of the OAS member states.
Maduro also alleged that the Panamanian Ambassador to the OAS, Arturo Vallarino, conspired against Venezuela in Washington, and Venezuela cut off diplomatic and trade relations with its Central American neighbor, raising strong concerns in the Colon Free Zone.
What Maduro considers interference in Venezuela’s internal affairs has led to the severing of diplomatic
De Soto said that the conversation was strained.
"It was not a conversation. I must say, on his part, there was a lack of respect," said Alvarez De Soto.
However, the Chancellor said that he does not want to enter into a controversy with Jaua, and that there should always be "a framework of respect and transparency."
"We have acted on this initiative, and will continue to do so, with great respect and transparency," he said.
De Soto said the initiative of Panama was taken as a suggestion to see if the OAS could encourage dialogue among Venezuelans and end the deadly riots in that country reports La Prensa.
"Panama has never tried to interfere in the affairs of Venezuela, on the contrary we presented a proposal for dialogue and peace," the minister said
The Permanent Council of the OAS met Thursday for more than eight hours behind closed doors to discuss the situation in Venezuela.
But, ddiscrepancies between its members prevented it from agreeing on the text of a political declaration.