Here is the full translated transcript of the interview of Paco Palmieri: Interviewer: We are making this informative contact to speak with Francisco Palmieri, who is the diplomatic chief of the U.S. External Office for Venezuela. Thank you very much, Ambassador, for being here.
Ambassador Palmieri: Gabriela, it's a great pleasure to share with you and your audience today.
Interviewer: Ambassador, we're getting closer to that date of January 10, 2025, when the person chosen by all Venezuelans should take office. Can you list some of the specific actions that U.S. diplomacy has taken to ensure that this inauguration actually takes place? Ambassador Palmieri: Yes, that's a good question. Last week in New York, Secretary of State Anthony Blinken had an excellent meeting with more than 50 countries regarding the situation in Venezuela. We defined very clearly that Edmundo González won the most votes in the July 28 election. It's time for Nicolas Maduro to recognize that he lost and begin a dialogue process. The most important aspect of the New York meeting was the call for collective action. We're not just going to talk about the situation, but work together with the entire international community to take concrete actions, and we will continue to do so.
Interviewer: What do these concrete actions aim towards? For example, are they sectoral sanctions, specific sanctions against officials who continue to violate human rights, or even their family members? Ambassador Palmieri: Three weeks ago, we again imposed individual sanctions against those responsible for the brutal repression that exists in Venezuela. After the election, we also sanctioned those responsible in the TSJ and CNE for not complying with the country's democratic norms. We will continue to evaluate and take into account those who are responsible for the situation.
Interviewer: Is there a specific date for imposing these sanctions? Is there a timeframe you're working with from now until, for example...? Ambassador Palmieri: We will continue to impose more sanctions at appropriate times, in coordination with other countries in the international community, to maintain accountability for these people.
Interviewer: You mentioned that January 10, 2025, would be a democratic milestone for Venezuela. How do you envision it as an ambassador, as someone who is following Venezuela's pulse? Do you see, for example, Edmundo González returning to the country before that date? Ambassador Palmieri: Well, January 10 is obviously a very important milestone. That's why it's necessary to begin a dialogue led by the democratic opposition that won more votes on January 28. Nicolas Maduro has to recognize this and start a process where both sides can talk about how to reach January 10 in the best position to continue opening political spaces instead of closing them.
Interviewer: Ambassador, we know that the Barbados agreement was practically tied to the conversations that the United States had with Nicolas Maduro's regime in Qatar. Are there ways to resume these conversations specifically between the United States and Maduro's regime? Because the United States is a key player - the Venezuelan opposition might want to dialogue, but we see the position in which María Corina Machado finds herself, for example, in hiding.
Ambassador Palmieri: That's an important point you're making. It's about how the international community can collectively support the democratic opposition within the country. The voices of María Corina and Edmundo González continue to be critical to advance a democratic solution in Venezuela. If there is no progress towards this dialogue, January 10 will be much more complicated.
Interviewer: But is the United States willing, if tomorrow Nicolas Maduro opens that door, to have those specific and direct conversations with them to reactivate the whole Qatar issue? Ambassador Palmieri: Well, the United States has always maintained channels of communication with Nicolas Maduro and his team. It's obvious at this moment that dialogue is necessary. We will fully support Venezuela's democratic opposition in this effort. It's fundamental for diplomacy that we keep these channels open.
Interviewer: Within these conversations, is there discussion about U.S. citizens currently detained in Venezuela? For example, do you consider them political prisoners of the Venezuelan dictatorship? Ambassador Palmieri: Look, I have asked Maduro's Foreign Ministry to allow us to visit these citizens of ours. They should authorize consular access for us so that we can verify and confirm the situation they are in. But without this access, which is very unusual that they are not giving us, it's difficult to know exactly what status these Americans are in.
Interviewer: Looking at another aspect of this crisis with Venezuela, we saw some headlines indicating that the U.S. Energy Information Administration had said that Venezuela had exceeded 300,000 barrels of oil per day in exports to the United States, consolidating it as the third largest oil supplier to the United States. Is this information accurate? Does Venezuela currently export more oil than, for example, Saudi Arabia? Ambassador Palmieri: That's an excellent observation. We are also aware of this new data, and it seems that through these individual licenses, the amount of Venezuelan oil reaching the United States has increased.
Interviewer: Do you have any concrete action that you're going to take regarding this oil issue? Several congressmen and senators have asked to stop this oil shipment to the United States. What is your current position? Ambassador Palmieri: Well, we are looking at what is being proposed in Congress regarding this oil trade. At the moment, the licenses are in force, allowing oil to leave Venezuela to different countries, including the United States. At this time, there's nothing more to report.
Interviewer: Ambassador, would you support the call for regional or parliamentary elections if Nicolas Maduro makes such proposals? Ambassador Palmieri: Well, I understand that there will already be regional assembly elections in 2025. It's totally urgent that we open more democratic spaces in the country, and these types of elections will be very important for Venezuelans, I believe.
Interviewer: Regarding the reward, there is a specific request from the Senate to raise that reward to $100 million, but also one for $25 million that could be effective quickly through the Department of Justice. Is that on the table? Ambassador Palmieri: I haven't studied what has been proposed in Congress regarding these rewards. What I know is that the White House has said several times that everything is on the table if a dialogue begins, and I believe that will be a point of discussion.
Interviewer: Finally, how costly will it be for the region, for the United States, and for the world's democracies if Nicolas Maduro gets his way? Ambassador Palmieri: Well, the most important thing is for Venezuelans. It's not for the world, it's for Venezuelans who want to get out of the economic crisis, the humanitarian crisis, the political crisis. It starts with Nicolas Maduro recognizing what is obvious to everyone - he lost the July 28 elections, and now we need to discuss how we can advance democracy in Venezuela. That's the most important point that Nicolas Maduro needs to respond to.
Interviewer: Thank you very much for your time and this opportunity.
Ambassador Palmieri: Gabriela, thank you very much for this opportunity to speak with you. We are always willing to do so.
Interviewer: Those were the statements from the U.S. Ambassador to Venezuela, who is in charge of that external office from Bogotá. This concludes our contact.