FIFTH SUMMIT OF THE HEADS OF STATE AND/OR GOVERNMENT OF THE STATES AND TERRITORIES OF THE ASSOCIATION OF CARIBBEAN STATES (ACS)

Karibe Hotel, Pétion Ville, Haiti

April 26th, 2013

SPECIAL COMMUNIQUÉ

Congratulations to the Venezuelan People and Government for the result of the elections of April 14, 2013.

We, the Heads of States and/or the Government of the States and Territories of the Association of Caribbean States (ACS), meeting in Pétion Ville, Haiti, on April 26, 2013:

Express our warm congratulations to the People of Venezuela for their massive participation in the last Presidential election of April 14th, which ratified the democratic vocation of that sister nation, and we welcome President Nicolás Maduro Moros on his election as President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.

Urge all the sectors that were involved in the electoral process, to respect the official results issued by the competent national authority, in accordance with the Constitution of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. We take note of the decision of the electoral body to implement a methodology which permits the audit of all the polling stations.

Extend our sincerest condolences to the families of the victims of violence on April 15th, 2013 and our solidarity with those who were wounded. We also invoke to dialogue and to help to preserve a climate of tolerance for the benefit of the Venezuelan people.