Panama wants to host summit of Latin American presidents due to protests in Venezuela
Jose Raul Mulino, President of Panama (photo: facebook.com/joseraulmulino)
Panamanian President Jose Raul Mulino announced his desire to hold a summit of 17 Latin American presidents to discuss the political situation in Venezuela, reports Reuters.
Mulino instructed the head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to organize an invitation to the summit.
"I have asked Foreign Minister Martinez Acha to talk to his counterparts in the region about inviting a meeting of the (17) presidents in Panama to address the issue of Venezuela and rehearse more actions in support of democracy and the popular will of our brotherly country. I hope and believe this will happen," the Panamanian president wrote on his Twitter account.
Reuters adds that Mulino also asked for the support of the United States of America for the summit during a meeting with General Laura Richardson of the US Southern Command and US Ambassador to Panama Marie Carmen Aponte.
The aim of the summit will be a joint declaration on the political situation in the South American country and the search for a peaceful solution to the situation.
Protests in Venezuela
Protests began in Venezuela after the results of the presidential election were announced. The authorities declared the victory of the current leader Nicolas Maduro, however, the opposition considers the voting results to be falsified.
Meanwhile, the United States recognized the opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez as the winner.
The European Union also does not recognize Maduro's election victory.
