Foxley reiterates condemnation of Vivanco's expulsion from Venezuela

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SANTIAGO.- Chancellor Alejandro Foxley issued a call today for the respect of diversity in democracy and reiterated his condemnation of the expulsion of Chilean José Miguel Vivanco, the director of Human Rights Watch for Latin America, from Venezuela.

"What we have to get through to some countries (…) is that the principle of diversity must always be accepted, and furthermore, we should never, ever, violate the rights of an individual", Foxley told Radio Cooperativa.

The minister added that two documents would be delivered today in response to his Venezuelan counterpart, Nicolás Maduro, who asked him to "rectify" his opinions concerning President Hugo Chávez.

"Two letters will be delivered to the Venezuelan government today. One will be my response to Chancellor (Nicolás) Maduro concerning the well-known incident, and secondly, a note will be sent expressing emphatic objection to the expulsion of the director of Human Rights Watch", stated Foxley.

When asked about critiques from the opposition regarding the alleged weak nature of the Chilean response, the minister asserted that a responsibility exists to maintain the most favorable relations possible between Chile and the rest of the world and region.