US: Venezuela's exit from IACHR is a regrettable message for democracy

The United States on Wednesday warned Venezuela that if Caracas withdraw from the Inter-American Court of Human Rights (IACHR), as the government of President Hugo Chávez has threatened, they "would be sending a deeply regrettable message" in terms of human rights and democracy.

"From our perspective, Venezuela would be sending a deeply regrettable message about its commitment to human rights and democracy, particularly to its neighbors," said US State Department Spokeswoman Victoria Nuland, as quoted by DPA.

She highlighted that the IACHR is a "highly respected, independent and autonomous" body of the Organization of American States (OAS).

"We would hate to see Venezuela walk away from it, particularly in light of those people inside Venezuela fighting for their democratic rights," said Nuland in her daily press briefing.

Venezuelan Foreign Minister Nicolás Maduro on Wednesday reiterated that the government of Hugo Chávez intends to leave the IACHR, whose rulings he described as "aberrant."

"We will submit a letter to the general secretariat and then we will have a one-year term for Venezuela to detach from the body, which has acted in line with the behavior of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights in pleasing the terrorist groups that tried to end the Venezuelan constitutional process," Maduro said in an interview with state-run TV channel Venezolana de Televisión.