The Foreign Policy Leadership Council Calls For a More Responsible and Pro-active Policy Toward Latin America.

NEW YORK -- Citing how critical Sunday's Venezuelan Referendum is to the United States, the Foreign Policy Leadership Council (FPLC), an organization of policy experts comprised of former government officials, academics, writers and emerging leaders from the legal, business and non-profit sectors, today called for a more responsible and pro-active policy toward Latin America.

Despite its initial pledges to make Latin America a "fundamental" element of its foreign policy, the Administration has done little to further democracy, security or economic stability there. It should take advantage of this weekend's elections in Venezuela to take a strong stand.

On Sunday, Venezuela will hold a referendum to determine whether one of the U.S.' most vocal critics, President Hugo Chavez, will continue in office or face a recall by the electorate. At this critical juncture, the U.S. must articulate a coherent, responsible policy toward Venezuela and Latin America that will promote democracy, security and economic stability. The U.S. can no longer turn a blind eye to the autocratic rule of Chavez, which is having harmful consequences on the region and even within our own country.

Instability in Venezuela is contributing to the global uncertainty which is affecting oil prices and, therefore, the U.S. economy. The U.S. should no longer sit idly while Venezuela, which sells approximately 1.4 million barrels of oil a day to the U.S., is engulfed in an economic, social and democratic crisis.

Democracy and transparency are essential elements for a peaceful and terror-free world and for a robust global economy, yet, remarkably, the U.S. Administration has shown little support for the democratic opposition in Venezuela. President Chavez has repeatedly tried to squash the opposition through forced imprisonment, military intimidation, and press censorship. But the Administration, which has barely uttered a complaint, continues a policy of neglect.

On Sunday, as many as 75 percent of Venezuela's citizens are predicted to brave Chavez's intimidation tactics and visit the polls to cast their votes in this pivotal election. At the same time, in the U.S. , millions of motorists will pay record prices at the pump this week.

The Administration's neglect of events in Venezuela and the rest of Latin America should not be allowed to mortgage U.S. interests in the region and its economic future. Nor should the U.S. continue to remain silent in the face of the abuse of fundamental national values.

The FPLC seeks to help shape the next generation of thinking about U.S. foreign policy and America's place in the world. The group is building a national network of experts interested in contributing to an ongoing dialogue over U.S. foreign policy, both at the national and local levels, through public debate, education, targeted messaging and outreach.