Former Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Zapatero and Dominican President Danilo Medina invited both sides to restart dialogue in the Caribbean nation. The Venezuelan government and the country’s opposition have begun a new round of talks in Santo Domingo, where the lead government representative has announced an agreement is close.
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro appointed Jorge Rodriguez, mayor of Caracas’ Libertador municipality, to represent him along with his Foreign Minister Delcy Rodríguez and Venezuelan OAS ambassador Roy Chaderton Matos.
Jorge Rodríguez told the press he is optimistic that the Venezuelan government and the opposition will reach an agreement on key points during the talks in Santo Domingo that are moderated by former President of Spain, Jose Luis Zapatero, and Dominican President Danilo Medina.
Delcy Rodríguez is also president of the National Constituent Assembly. She told the press she expects the talks to produce a “peaceful coexistence”. “We have come here with a flag of peace,” she told the press.
Nevertheless, the Democratic Unity Table (MUD) alliance in Venezuela denied the reopening of negotiations with the government. Nevertheless, MUD agreed to send a delegation to meet with President Danilo Medina and present the objectives of their national democratic fight. Julio Borges, president of the National Assembly, is leading the opposition at the talks. MUD issued a note detailing the coalition’s requirements for any talks with the Maduro administration. As reported, representing the opposition are deputies Eudoro González and Luis Florido and political leaders Gustavo Velásquez and Timoteo Zambrano, Manuel Rosales and Vicente Díaz who also accepted to meet with President Medina.
Among the conditions set by the opposition is the announcement of a complete electoral schedule, including presidential election; the freeing of political prisoners; and lifting of detentions and restrictions on opposition members, recognition of the elected National Assembly, and immediate action to alleviate the economic and social crisis of the country. We reaffirm to Danilo Medina and Antonio Guterres that there will be no talks until these conditions are met and there is international brokering, said Borges.
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres welcomed the movement in the talks. His office said in a statement: “(We) encourage the Venezuelan political actors to seize this opportunity. The situation in Venezuela requires a political solution based on dialogue and compromise between the government and the opposition to ensure peaceful coexistence among all Venezuelans.”
In Santo Domingo on Wednesday, 13 September 2017, Zapatero met with Foreign Minister Miguel Vargas and both called for urgent dialogue in Venezuela.
As reported in local media, on the same day, the former President of Spain, also met with former President Leonel Fernández at the Fundación Global Democracia y Desarrollo (Funglode), the Fernandez think tank. Fernandez has also served as a mediator in the talks between Maduro and the opposition in Venezuela.
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7 Dias
Noticias SIN
El Universal
14 September 2017
