2017News

Medina to guide talks with Venezuela

Danilo Medina / 7 Dias

In Paris, the French government greeted the renewal of the dialogue between Venezuelan authorities and the opposition even as they warned Venezuelan leaders in Caracas of the risk of sanctions by the European Union (EU). The French Minister of Foreign Affairs,Jean-Yves Le Drian, met in Paris with his Venezuelan counterpart, Jorge Arreaza. The meeting had not been previously announced.

Minister Le Drian told reporters: “I am happy to hear that talks with the opposition will resume tomorrow (today) in the Dominican Republic under the guidance of Dominican President Danilo Medina and the former President of the Spanish government José Luis Rodriguez Zapatero.”

The French Minister called this “good news” and expressed his trust that this would “translate very quickly into concrete measures.”

Nevertheless, Le Drian, who said that his interview with Minister Arreaza had been “frank and constructive”, added that he had expressed to his counterpart the serious concern in France over the economic, political and humanitarian situation in Venezuela.”

Rodríguez Zapatero and the Dominican Foreign Minister Miguel Vargas held a meeting on 12 September 2017, in the afternoon, during which they called for the Venezuelan government and the opposition to take part in urgent talks. In the press communiqué released after this meeting they said that they had been convinced that there is an opportunity to initiate a process that will lead to mutual recognition and reconciliation.

Read more:
7 Dias
NYTimes

13 September 2017