Lima, August 16, 2004. The Secretary General of the Andean Community, Ambassador Allan Wagner Tizón, congratulated the people of Venezuela for the civic maturity they demonstrated in last Sunday’s revocatory referendum. He added that the results, ratified by international observers, constituted a great opportunity for the people and government of Venezuela. These results will serve to initiate the new stage of joint work and agreement necessary to face the challenges of development and strengthen democratic governability.

He indicated that once the official results were recognized, he had congratulated President Hugo Chavez and the Venezuelan authorities.

The CAN representative mentioned the massive turnout of Venezuelan citizens at the polls, as well as the climate of normality in which the voting process took place.

Wagner expressed his sincere desire that “this climate of normality persist and that understanding and harmony be fostered in the near future.”

“ The unprecedented voting experience in Venezuela is fundamental to strengthening democratic processes in the region, opening up new avenues for fighting poverty, exclusion and inequality while consolidating Andean integration,” he concluded.