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Latin America and the Caribbean A Roadmap for Venezuela’s Future

An Interview with Isadora Zubillaga, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs of Venezuela and Special Envoy of President Juan Guaidó to France

EDITORS’ NOTE Isadora Zubillaga representative of the interim govern- living conditions. Hunger is a reality for a third has served as Director of Speak Truth ment of Venezuela in Europe, I have of Venezuela’s population. I always ask myself, to Power, a Human Rights program of had the honor and privilege to meet and I ask your readers to do the same: how the Robert F. Kennedy Foundation, with political and opinion leaders of would you feel as a mother or a father if you and as International Coordinator every ideological stripe in every cor- were unable to feed your children? of NYC2010, under the leadership ner of Europe to explain the complex Our roadmap should not lose sight of the of Michael Bloomberg. She was a situation in Venezuela and the ramifi - real reason behind our fi ght which is the recov- member of the Board of Directors of cations it has had on the Venezuelan ery of human dignity for Venezuelans. Our fi rst the Alliance Francaise of Caracas people, to denounce the cruelty of commitment is to build a road towards a demo- and International Director of the the Maduro dictatorship, and to seek cratic solution where Venezuelans participate in Municipality of Chacao, under the proper democratic accompaniment in a general election that is both free and fair. We term of Mayor Leopoldo López. She our cause. One of the most reward- will choose between dark and light, between also worked in venture capital as Isadora Zubillaga ing moments of this decade-long death and life, between a dictator that kills Vice President of eQuest Partners fi ght came during a December 2017 innocents and the rebirth of democracy led by and was the CEO of LA Almazara. Zubillaga European Parliament plenary in Strasbourg a generation of committed, brave and talented was designated by Venezuelan President Juan when the Venezuelan opposition was awarded leaders abundant both within Venezuela and Guaidó and the National Assembly of Venezuela the Sakharov Prize for our continued fi ght for within the Venezuelan diaspora. as Ambassador of the Republic of Venezuela to freedom and human rights. The second milestone for our coalition is France and also as the Deputy Minister for You are creating a roadmap for Venezuela to establish a National Emergency Government, Foreign Affairs of Venezuela in 2019. Zubillaga for 2021. Will you provide an overview of this conformed by all political sectors of the coun- earned a degree in economics and political sci- roadmap and what you see as the keys to try except those responsible for crimes against ence from Boston University and a master’s making this vision become a reality? humanity. The objective of an Emergency degree in international relations from Sorbonne In February 2019, interim President Juan Government is to urgently and efficiently University in Paris. Guaidó designated me as his Ambassador to address the ongoing humanitarian crisis and to France and seven months later, in September, I stabilize the country. You have been a leader in the fight for was named Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs. Third, our coalition seeks to build a uni- change in Venezuela for many years. Will In these positions, I have contributed to the fi ed platform that will rebuild Venezuela and you discuss this commitment and how this enlargement of the interim government’s coali- invest in the necessary infrastructure that will passion and purpose developed? tion and have helped provide a voice to the better provide basic services such as health, My family comes from the south of Venezuelan people at the highest level. But as food, electricity, education and transport. Let’s Venezuela, home to the majestic Angel Falls, time goes by, the men and women of my coun- think of Venezuela today as a post-war coun- powerful rivers and endless plains. I was privi- try are suffering unimaginable and inexplicable try that needs the assistance of the international leged to grow up in a family of women with great character. As the youngest of four com- petitive sisters, we were raised by a resilient mother who taught us to love and embrace our Venezuelan traditions, to never forget where we came from, and to respect and defend the val- ues of freedom and humanity – values that later served as the foundation for both my passion “Our roadmap should not lose sight and commitment to social justice. Every cause that I have defended, whether of the real reason behind our fi ght which it be political or human rights, or simply help- ing to build bridges between both countries and people, I have always done so with one is the recovery of human dignity objective in mind – to assure that human rights are never violated in Venezuela or in any other place on earth. for Venezuelans.” In 2014, I was forced to leave Venezuela due to political persecution. Ever since, I have been working with both the Venezuelan dias- pora and young and dynamic leaders to rep- resent the democratic forces in our country. For the last two years, as the top diplomatic 172 LEADERS POSTED WITH PERMISSION. COPYRIGHT © 2021 LEADERS MAGAZINE, LLC VOLUME 44, NUMBER 2 “We will work with the great democracies and economies of the free world to design and materialize a rebuilding plan that will change the direction and the future of millions in Venezuela and enhance the security and peace of the region as well.”

community, but with a great opportunity to However, our work is far from done and so Even though most of the free world doesn’t stand up again. The country can show the we must continue to exert pressure on a regime recognize the dictatorship, the regime still has solidarity and the generosity that has always that continues to commit human rights viola- many potent allies. Every one of us can take a been a trademark, work hand in hand with the tions and crimes against humanity on a daily stand on the right side of history. It is our duty, Venezuelan diaspora and with our neighbor- basis. Additionally, our people are suffering as defenders of freedom, democracy and the ing countries that were there when we needed more than ever due to the ongoing COVID-19 rule of law, to speak out against these viola- them the most. We will work with the great pandemic and due to an inept regime that has tions and to take action to protect the millions democracies and economies of the free world allowed our hospitals to fall into a dilapidated of citizens who are living under this oppressive to design and materialize a rebuilding plan that state and where food remains scarce and elec- and undemocratic regime. will change the direction and the future of mil- tricity and access to sanitary water is unreliable. You are a mentor and role model to lions in Venezuela and enhance the security and As such, pressure through targeted, individual many young girls in Venezuela through peace of the region as well. sanctions and judicial actions, among others, your actions and efforts. What do you tell How critical is it to build international must increase in order to pressure the regime these young girls about public service and support to bring about a democratic solution to first, permit a full-fledged humanitarian the importance of following a passion and to the multidimensional crisis in Venezuela response, and second, to organize free and purpose in their lives? through transitional mechanisms? fair elections as soon as possible. I tell them to always support causes that International support is not only critical, it We remain hopeful that new dynamics are important to them, to stay true to their is a sine qua non condition for fi nding a peace- between the Americas and Europe will help values, and to work hard for what they want. ful, democratic and political solution to the mul- build the multilateral approach that is neces- It is never easy, but with the necessary pas- tidimensional crisis in Venezuela. Since January sary to bring about real political change in sion and dedication, they can achieve their 2019, the interim government of Venezuela has Venezuela. goals. Resilience is a word that characterizes built a coalition of support consisting of over 50 What message would you want to me the most and I continue to be inspired by countries which is unprecedented in the recent provide to the global community about this beautiful country that we all love. One history of international relations. These 50+ coun- Venezuela today and its possibilities for must always follow their heart. We are part of tries have voiced their support for the restoration the future? a generation that is fi ghting to recover democ- of democracy and human rights in Venezuela My main message would be that we can- racy and freedom today and the younger gen- and are working tirelessly by our side to achieve not allow a criminal regime that commits crimes eration will have the responsibility to rebuild a solution to our crisis. Through their support, against humanity including torture, degrading Venezuela in an honest, effi cient and respect- we have achieved the implementation of indi- and inhumane treatment, rape, forced disap- ful way. That is a once in a lifetime opportu- vidual, targeted sanctions in Europe, the freezing pearances, extrajudicial killings, and other nity – seize it. and recovery of assets, and worked to facilitate systematic and widespread human rights vio- You have said that this is the time that access to desperately needed humanitarian aid. lations to continue to exist as a government. the ght for freedom in Venezuela needs to happen. Are you optimistic that real, last- ing change is possible? Yes, I am convinced that real, lasting change is possible and, in fact, inevitable. We are fac- ing a very powerful adversary, and therefore, the fi ght has been a long and uphill struggle. However, the interim government, members of “We remain hopeful that new dynamics between Parliament, civil society, the Venezuelan dias- pora, the church, the unions, and many, many the Americas and Europe will help build the Venezuelans, both within the country and out- side its borders, are ready to do everything they can in order to achieve a peaceful transition multilateral approach that is necessary to bring in our country. No one ever knows when the wall will fall, but we need to be ready to push because the wall has many fractures. Every about real political change in Venezuela.” one of the 5 million people that have fl ed the country, every case of torture and assassination, every one of the thousands of political prison- ers, every beautiful river contaminated, every innocent child that suffers, every patient with- out medicine, those are the cracks in the wall and the wall of tyranny will fall.• VOLUME 44, NUMBER 2 POSTED WITH PERMISSION. COPYRIGHT © 2021 LEADERS MAGAZINE, LLC LEADERS 173