Lula describes meeting Maduro in Brazil as a historic moment – Escambray

The last time Maduro was in the South American giant was in 2015, when he captured the second term of Governor Dilma Rousseff.

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva described his May 29 meeting with his Venezuelan counterpart, Nicolás Maduro, who has not visited this country in eight years, as a historic moment.

The last time Maduro was at the South American giant was in 2015, when the second term of Governor Dilma Rousseff (2011-2016) was inaugurated.

“It gives me great pleasure to receive you again. It is difficult to imagine that many years have gone by without dialogues with the power of a neighboring Amazonian state, with whom we share a long border of 2,200 kilometers,” Lula declared after welcoming the visitor at the Planalto Palace, seat of the executive branch in Brasília.

According to the former labor leader, he fought a lot “with fellow European Social Democrats, with governments, with people from the United States. I thought it was the most absurd thing in the world, for people who advocate democracy, to deny that you were President of Venezuela, after you were elected by the people.”

Lula warned of continued prejudice against Maduro. “The prejudice against Venezuela is too great. How many criticisms have we had here during the election campaign for being a friend of Venezuela.

He also asserted that Caracas needs to spread its narrative about the country’s political and economic situation to counter the one built by dissidents on the international scene.

I think it is up to Venezuela to show its narrative, so that it can effectively change people’s minds. (…) It is essential that you build your narrative, and I think that for all that we have talked about, your narrative will be better than the one they put forward against you,” the mechanic suggested in speaking directly to Maduro.

He considered it unreasonable for a country to have 900 penalties because another country does not like it. “I think it is in your hands, comrade (Maduro), to build your narrative and transform this game so that Venezuela returns to being a sovereign people, where only its people say, through a free vote, who will rule the country. », he stressed.

In the same vein, Maduro later spoke with Lula and also announced his intention to deepen relations between Brazil and Venezuela.

He noted that his country has “open doors” and “full guarantees” for the Brazilian business community.

“We love the history of the Brazilian people, the strength and the spiritual joy. Don’t let anyone else close the door. From now on, Brazil and Venezuela must unite forever.”

Along with 10 other South American leaders, Maduro will participate tomorrow in this capital city in a summit called by Lula to promote integration and revive the region’s role on the international stage.