Daily Press Briefing Richard Boucher, Spokesman Washington, DC May 27, 2003

QUESTION: Okay, another subject, yes. Mr. Gaviria is in Caracas to support the sign of an agreement between the opposition leaders of Venezuela and the government. I just want to know the importance of the U.S. -- of the -- that your government is giving to the sign of an agreement which reproduced rights of the Venezuelan constitution. What is the big deal in that?

MR. BOUCHER: Well, we think it is important that they have taken this step. We certainly welcome the agreement that the Government of Venezuela and the opposition reached this last Friday, May 23rd, to set the framework for a referendum on the tenure of President Chavez and other elected officials. I think it does reflect hard work and a commitment of Venezuelan negotiators, as well as their international supporters and the Secretary General of the OAS.

We look forward to both sides signing the accord. We will continue working with our partners to facilitate a peaceful, constitutional, democratic and electoral solution to Venezuela's political impasse.

We note that the agreement recognizes the important role the international community can still play in providing technical observation and monitoring assistance for any future electoral process.

So it is important in that the parties have agreed to implement the provisions of the Venezuelan constitution that are discussed there, and we think that is a political and constitutional way to move forward and resolve some of the tension here.

QUESTION: Richard --

QUESTION: Excuse me. To follow up, is Venezuela in any way to be worried on the current relationship between both countries, between the United States and Venezuela, needs to be worrying?

MR. BOUCHER: I think we have taken this issue by issue. We have spoken pretty loudly about some of the events in Venezuela, particularly a crackdown on freedom of the press, a crackdown on political and electoral freedoms that have taken place. And we have looked very strongly to this process led by Secretary General Gaviria of the Organization of American States to try to reestablish a sense of political balance in that country and to establish the basic rights of Venezuelan citizens. So we think this is important in that regard and I think this is a way of getting away from the tensions and the problems that have existed in the relationship with the United States.