Transcription
At you. We are reminded of something profoundly human: that courage is not the absence of fear, but the decision that something else matters more. That is why we, in the Norwegian Nobel Committee, wrote in October, "As the leader of the democracy movement in Venezuela, María Corina Machado is one of the most extraordinary examples of civilian courage in recent Latin American history." But citations and speeches cannot grasp and capture what it means to see you being here in this room, in safety and dignity.
[clears throat] So, just let me end with this, from all of us. We are so grateful that you are here. More grateful than any word can express. Grateful that the threats did not stop you. Grateful that fear did not silence you. Grateful that, despite every risk to your life, you chose to come. Your presence here is a reminder that hope, courage, and love—love for your country, love for your family—can outlast repression. Thank you so much for being here.
[applause]
My turn. I will start by thanking you all, every one of you who's here today. I've met these last hours when that have come so far away as Saudi Arabia, Japan, Chile, Canada, people from all over our country, and they are proud to say so. I'm so glad to have been able to see you and meet you again at Mundo and Mercedes. We're so proud of you and, uh, so looking forward for what we're going to do together very soon for our country. Seen friends, colleagues that I have not seen in the last eight or ten years, but that have stood firm all around the world, closer every day to Venezuela. Nor distance nor time have broken that profound link to your country, and everybody says they want to come back. Everybody that I've met in the streets of Oslo says they are preparing their bags to come back home, to build a nation that we will be so proud of, and that we will always tell our children what this generation has done.
Um, I, I am so grateful, and I have to say it here, to the people that made it possible, men and women, that I could arrive here today. To all of you, my friends and swans know, because we have said, I've said this before, that every single day of my life, I ask myself, "Who are most useful to our cause?" And when I make that decision consciously, that's where I have been. That's why I've stayed until recently in our country. This day, I had to be here, and it, it wasn't easy. Sometimes it looked impossible, but so many times we've been told what we wanted to do was impossible, and we have done it. So, being here today is a proof of what the Venezuelan people's will and courage and love is capable of achieving. And, uh, I arrived a little late, but I'm here. And I think that God has its ways, because my words couldn't have been better expressed by someone of a generation that has not known democracy or lived in freedom. But they have learned from their fathers, mothers, and grandparents what it requires. And these hard children are willing to give their life for something they have never known. So that's why I'm convinced we have the best generation of Venezuelans ever, ready to finish our job, not only to liberate our country, but to build a nation with strong pillars, ethical pillars, that will represent the new democratic institution for centuries to come. That's the magnitude of the responsibility we have.
And now, if you allow me, I want to say a few words in Spanish.
For Venezuela. Austral freedom certainly requires democracy. Democracy, and you cannot have democracy unless you conquer and defend freedom. And, and at the end, to maintain freedom. And it is a personal, conscious decision. Uh, it requires a lot of courage, civic courage, as you have. And, uh, an individual and a society is willing to do everything. And it takes a lot of courage when the things you most, you love most in life, most dearly, are threatened. So, at the end, it is an act of love. Ultimately, peace is an act of love. And I think that's the, the lesson we have given ourselves. And we hope that these, you know, can be helpful and inspirational to other nations as well. So, thank you very much to all of you, the committee, and the institute, and, and certainly to the Norwegian people, that have shown us also much love in these hours. Thank you very much. Thank you.
>> Thank you so much. I know already see more hands than I can possibly register and then I can possibly accommodate. So this is going to be unfair, and I apologize in advance. But I already have a few names on a few people on my list. Um, AP, first, please introduce yourselves and your affiliation.
>> Thank you. [clears throat] From AFP. Congratulations too. Um, I know I realize that you cannot say much about the circumstances under which you left your country, but could you say at least if you have the feeling that the Venezuelan authorities have tried to hinder you from attending the Nobel ceremony, have tried to prevent you from attending the Nobel ceremony yesterday, and to which extent did you benefit from, uh, help from the US authorities?
>> Thank you. Thank you. Well, for the reasons you mentioned, I, I cannot give details because these are people that could be harmed. Uh, certainly the regime would have done everything to prevent me from coming. They did not know where I was in hiding in Venezuela. So, it was hard for them to stop me. Um, it was rude, nonetheless. And yes, we did get support from the United States government to get here.
>> Thank you. And I have to ask everybody to limit yourself to one question and not follow the exact from those sneaking two questions into one. That's an old, well-known trick, and it did work in this instance. It may not work again. [laughter] Uh, please, with light hair there. Yes. Please, please, please wait for the for the microphone so that we can hear.
Foreign Russia, group. You see, would you like to summarize very briefly in in English since?
>> Okay.
>> I apologize, but there are some of us who don't know Spanish. [laughter] Like we'd like to do after suspect I'm not the only one in.
>> Two intense days you had, at least. [laughter] No, um, I, I was asked if you were supporting an intervention from the United States. And I said that Venezuela has been already being occupied by forces from totalitarian regimes such as Russia, Iran, Cuba, and criminal groups such as Hezbollah, the C drug cartels, and the Colombian guerrilla. And as the regime seeks support and gets support from these totalitarian regimes, we, the Venezuelan people, that have tried every single, you know, institutional means, ask support from the democratic nations in the world to cut those resources that come from illegal activities and support of repressive approaches. And, and that's why we are certainly asking the world to act. It's not a matter of statements, as you say. It's a matter of actions. Please. Then the woman with the light hair and the yellow, uh, key strap.
>> I'm not going to name you, even though I know some of you. Please introduce yourselves.
>> Glad for writers. Congratulations.
>> Thank you. Um, what is your reaction to the seizure by the US Coast Guard of a crew tanker off the coast of Venezuela? Is it a necessary step to bring about change? Thank you.
>> Well, uh, it's connected with what I, I answered previously, because as I said, the regime is using, uh, the resources, the cash flows that come from illegal activities, including the black market of oil, not to give food for hungry children, not for teachers who earn $1 a day, not to hospitals in Venezuela that do not have medicine or water, not for security. They use those resources to repress and persecute our people, to buy arms, to, to infiltrate, um, the, the military or, or our movements, uh, to, to pay for those that that commit crimes and repression, to maintain our friends and colleagues in prison. So, yes, these criminal groups have to be stopped, and cutting the sources of illegal activities is a very necessary step to take.
>> Please, with the green shirt there, just behind, just behind the previous.
>> Hi, congratulations. Um, surprise, my name is Hessa, from Bloomberg News. I'm wondering about your plans after you leave Norway. Are you going on a tour in Europe? Are you visiting the US? What will you do before returning to Venezuela? Thank you.
>> Thank you very much. I've been hearing several suggestions about that in the last hours and getting quite a few invitations, but to be absolutely honest, I'm taking one day at a time. Um, there was great uncertainty if I was able to come. So, I had not made many plans. Uh, so now that I'm here, I certainly want to spend a few hours with my colleagues, friends, and my children. Um, I should make one or two visits to the doctors, different doctors. After all, it's been no more than a year and a half. Certain things I should take care about. And [snorts] yes, there are, uh, some, uh, meetings that I believe, uh, could be very useful that I do before I go back home.
>> Please, we are not, we are not accepting unsolicited questions. There is a moderator here. Please be quiet.
>> I'll translate. They, they ask me if I.
>> They ask you.
>> No, they ask us if we can, if I can repeat this question in Spanish. I think it's important.
>> Okay, that you're welcome to.
>> As I told you, my Spanish is working all exist.
>> No. And as I told you.
>> Mean, you have to translate.
>> I'm learning how to deal with the Norwegians. [laughter] [gasps]
>> Well, last time the police didn't want me to go out and and say hello to the people, and finally we agreed. So, dialogue. [laughter] Bloomberg. Foreign here in the, in the dark shirt. Yes.
>> Thank you very much. My name is Monica. I am from Latin America here in this price has been.
>> Are you able to speak up a little bit?
>> Yeah, this, uh, price has been very controversial, controversial here in Norway. Um, some of people are very happy. The, the Norwegian society are very happy for you. But other part of the society is not so happy. They say that you constant calling for intervention, international intervention, and, uh, you, uh, rejection to participate in the dialogues with the opposition and the regime, uh, don't be aligned with the Norwegian, with the Nobel Peace Prize core principles. So, for those people, for those Norwegian citizens that are not so agree with the committee, what do you say to them about the take a dialogue as a path to restore democracy in Venezuela? Thank you.
>> Thank you very much. Well, I have to say that many times in our journey, the truth has been very uncomfortable for some people, and, uh, we have paid a high price for telling the truth, and many times it would have been much easier and politically correct to be to keep in silence. But we decided to speak out, and, uh, it had, it brought us sometime pain and, and, and people that wouldn't understand our stances. But at the end, I think that holding to the truth, it's what's creates trust, and that's the essence of what we're fighting for. So, I, I respect other people's views, and I, I know that the situation in Venezuela is very complex. But, uh, this morning, I had a great conversation at the parliament, and, and there were, there were representatives of every single political party in Norway, and, uh, I was so impressed to see how a society with institutions can work and, and passionately defend their ideas, but do it respectfully. And that's precisely what we want in Venezuela. That's what we're fighting for. So, I ask anybody, you know, that perhaps, and it's the right to have a doubt, to look further into what's truly at stake in Venezuela right now. And, and this is not only the unity of the opposition, but I insist, it's the unity of the whole nation. What has happened in our country? Thank you.
>> Thank you. Alison from Sky News. Um, President Trump has said that Nicholas Maduro's days. You've spoken about the people of Venezuela returning home very soon. What level of coordination is going on between yourself and the US administration about the day after Maduro goes, the weeks after?
>> Well, we are not involved at all in the decisions or operations that regard to the national security of other countries. I mean, every country has its own right for legitimate defense, and when they feel that their national security is at stake, they act accordingly. Uh, we have been working hard not only with the US government but other governments in Latin America and Europe in terms of, uh, explaining in detail what we are, how we are prepared for the first 100 hours and the next 100 days in a country that has a multi-dimensional crisis. It's not only the humanitarian crisis, the financial crisis, the, the public services crisis, the security crisis, all together. So, it's, it's quite a challenge that President Edmundo González and his team have. But I want to assure you that very talented, experienced, and honest, uh, professionals within Venezuela and abroad are working together, and we have the plans and things ready to take control on day one.
>> The man with the, with the white earpiece there. Excuse me. Yes, please. You have the mic. Please wait for the mic. Venezuela. Clarordin. Absolutely. Fore. You want this in English? If previous sir, I'm not the only one. [laughter]
>> I follow instructions well. Um, he, he asked me what are the next steps and if my return to the country was conditioned to Maduro leaving or not power. I said that I'm going back to Venezuela regardless of when Maduro goes out. He's, he's going out, but it is, it is going to be determining in terms of what is the, the moment when I, when I finish to do the things that I came out to do, and it's a proper conditions to go back. I will go back. And, um, the next steps include, you know, keep on growing our, uh, citizen organization on, on, you know, affinity and organizing, you know, the, the citizen movement to be ready when the moment comes to keep on preparing our teams and plans for the first 100 hours and days, and certainly the coordination with the international allies, not only to finish this phase of our process, but in the transition process, which is going to be critical to have good cooperation with agencies and governments. This morning, we were talking about this with your prime minister, and, and, and we are sure that we will get, uh, strong support from Norway, and we have a lot to learn from your institutions, you know, the energy agency and, and, and other areas in which we, we will need to work from day one.
>> With the gray cardigan, very close to the mic.
>> Thank you. Um, I'm Karina from Radio Romania, and I was wondering when the day will come, uh, what institutions you will internally reform first? Will this be police, justice? Thank you.
>> Thank you. That's a challenging question, because the, the right answer would have to be all. Venezuela's institutions have been absolutely devastated. Of course, there is a priority, and the priority is always the people. Uh, but having said that, there are many areas that are connected. I mean, you cannot have a vibrant economy that creates jobs if you don't have rule of law, and nobody's going to invest in a country in which you don't have security for the people, for the workers, and, and, and so on. How, how do we choose between education and health and, and, and, and protection to the most vulnerable sectors? I mean, this all has to be addressed, and has to be addressed twofold, as an, the emergency dimension, because people need to feel in their bodies and souls on day one what the arrival of the, of freedom means, on day one. And also, on a second level, the profound reforms, transformations we need to do into build up this new institutional, uh, uh, frame that that will have to last for a long time. So, we will need to work very fast on the security, police, and military side. We need to work very fast on the justice area. We need to put order in our, uh, economy and public, um, accounts. H, we need to create conditions and incentives for international investment to come. And certainly, the most important, we have to get the Venezuelan citizens involved and be co-responsible of everything that we're going to do.
>> Thank you. The woman with the dark hair.
>> Yes. [laughter] Please wait for the mic from town here in Norway. Madame Laurette, you took a huge risk coming to Oslo. There's a huge risk when you go back. What if you cannot go in? Will that weaken your absence? Weaken the resistance on the ground?
>> As I said, it was a decision that we reflected extensively. Of course, some people that that love me and care for me thought it was not necessary. On the contrary, I think it was one of the most important, urgent decisions I had to make. I had to be here. And I believe that the risk, even though it was very high, it was worthwhile. And of course, the risk of going back perhaps is higher, but, uh, but it's always worthwhile. And I'll be, I'll be back in Venezuela. I have no doubt. So, the man with the glasses there and the, the gray shirt.
>> [laughter]
>> Too many gray shirts.
>> I'm being minded here. [laughter]
>> Okay, you'll get your shots.
>> He has glasses. You've been very clear that you want to focus international attention on what's happening inside Venezuela, on the suffering and abuse happening inside Venezuela. And at the same time, I know you have been frustrated by attempts by some Western media to view your movement, view your work through the prism of American politics, of partisan, um, tensions inside the United States. At the same time, you have dedicated this prize to President Trump. Can you explain the this apparent dissonance?
>> Well, I, I think it's absolutely coherent. Uh, the, the, the, the war that Maduro has declared towards the Venezuelan people has brought, as, as I always insist, great pain and destruction. Uh, I, I believe we have never seen this kind of violence against innocent people in our country's history. Uh, it has been called state terrorism by the Interamerican Commission of Human Rights. State terrorism inside, towards our people, naroterrorism towards other nations in the region. So, I believe every country has the right to defend themselves. Uh, and, uh, in, in our case, I believe that President Trump's actions have been decisive to reach the point where we are right now, uh, in which the regime is weaker than ever, because the regime previously thought that they could do anything, anything they felt they had absolute impunity. They could, they could torture, they could disappear, they could sexually assault young women, and absolutely nothing was going to happen. [clears throat] The cost was zero. Now they start to understand that this is serious, and the world is really watching. So, you create incentives for that behavior to stop. You need to raise the cost of staying in power and lowering the cost of leaving power. Only when you do that, this regime will break down. And that's, that's where we are moving towards right now.
>> The very final question goes to the gentleman there with the glasses and the gray shirt.
>> [clears throat]
>> Venezuela, including Rafael, Henry, Pery, foras, floor. Yes. Intentional. Foreign. That's a long answer. It's about the political prison.
>> Is it possible to say?
>> Yeah, I'll do it. I'll, I'll do it as as quick as I possibly. And he was asking me that I was able to to embrace my children. How do I think political prisoners feel? And, and, um, I was telling them that on my way here, I was going through the names of our friends and colleagues that are currently under detention or disappeared, and remembering so many times I had to call some mothers to give them the news that their child has been taken by the regime, and that's one of the hardest moments I have gone through in my life. Um, but, uh, but I'm, you know, what we're doing is precisely for that, so that every Venezuelan mother can hug their children in Venezuela very soon, and that's the reason why I'm here. And, and believe me, seeing you each of you has given me so much energy and strength, and I'm going to recharge back home. Thank you.
>> Thank you. Thank you, Maria. Please, please.
>> I, I know I already said it was the last question, but I'm going to ask you, Maria, would you be comfortable with us extending this with a few minutes?
>> Yes, of course.
>> If you're comfortable with that, we will, we will exploit your seemingly unlimited [laughter]
>> Even further.
>> And we will still wind up before half. So again, a lot of people will not have the chance to to ask their questions. I apologize for that. Uh, please, you know, I am the moderator, and unless there is discipline in the room, we are, we are, we will have to abrupt the session, and I hate to do that. So, please bear with me. I know I'm not able to be fair. It's impossible to register 100 arms at one and the same time and see exactly which one was a split second before the other one. We have one moon here at the front. Yes, please. The microphone will come your way.
>> Hi, Maria. I'm going to do question in Spanish. Gracias. Gracias. In particular. In intern. She was asking me about the Venezuelan migrants, and, and that there is an, there's a presidential election next Sunday in, in, in Chile, and saying that we do ask, we're first grateful to countries that, and governments that had received so many Venezuelan migrants that are hardworking and honest and family-loving individuals, and that we, we hope that they keep protection until they are able to come voluntarily back home.
>> Is there a woman there with a grace? Please, Mexico here is Mexico here. Madrid. International. Venezuela. I was going to give you the word. You're about to lose it. That was a mistake. We have the woman here in the yellow jacket first. I'm sorry, but somebody needs to be the boss here. For defense. Uh, chech. Okay. Venezuela. Thank you. You want to give us more short synopsis?
>> Yeah. Um, just please.
>> She, she asked me, um, if, uh, uh, I knew about, uh, President Trump's ultimatum, and if I had received, uh, support.
>> Right? And I said that, uh, I have no information regarding the first, uh, issue, and that I had, uh, affirmed that I did, we did get support from the US government in order to arrive in, in Oslo.
>> Okay. The woman at the back gets. [laughter] [applause]
>> Close.
>> The thing is, the thing is, you would get me anyhow. Uh, I don't want you to lose it. But this is, please, please, please be silent. Uh, this is the last question. We are now going to wind up. I know there are another 100 people in the audience who would have liked to ask questions.
>> They need to go to the forum. They have the opinion. Gracias. Venezolamos. One day at a time.
>> Okay. Thank you very much. First of all.
>> You want, you want to say that in English? In English? Or she asked me if I was planning to run for president, and I said that one day at a time, and, you know, first come, first, h, we're going to liberate Venezuela. Edmundo González was elected president, and we will, we will rebuild institutions so that we will have free and fair elections in which every Venezuelan inside and outside our country will have the right to vote without fear and with trust. And, uh, you know, that's, that's the sequence that we'll, we'll move ahead. You know, we'll be the envy of the world. Sorry for saying that. We'll be the envy of the world with the electoral system, we'll have the judicial system, we have the educational system, we have the public health system, we'll have, and, and, and, and people will look and ask, "Go, how did you do that? That was impossible." [laughter] And we would have made it again, made possible what everybody thought was impossible. That's, that's the Venezuelan style. Thank you.
>> Thank you. Thank you for the translation. I'm sorry. [applause] Unfortunately, we are winding up. I apologize to all those who didn't get a chance to ask their questions. Uh, it's been quite an intense, uh, 24 hours. We say thank you to Maria Corina Machado. Thank you, Bruce. And thank you to everybody for being here.
>> Thank you. I don't know. Yeah. Come on.