Minister of Foreign Relations Miguel Vargas described as positive the signing of an Act of the Progress of the Agenda for the Agreements of the Dialogue of Coexistence in Venezuela. President Danilo Medina has acted as custodian of the talks. The Ministry of Foreign Relations announced the document was signed on Wednesday, 31 January 2018, by representatives of the Maduro administration and the opposition, and participating foreign ministers, including Miguel Vargas. Vargas said the signing is a major step forward in the Venezuelan government and opposition talks.
“We trust that after the parties carry out the corresponding consultations in Venezuela we will be able to meet again on Monday, 5 February to conclude the negotiations with a definitive agreement,” said Minister Miguel Vargas. The talks began on 13 September 2017, with President Medina presiding. The round that concluded on Tuesday, 30 January 2018, was the fifth. Government and opposition leaders traveled to Venezuela for talks and are expected to return to Santo Domingo for the final agreement.
Opposition leader Julio Borges said there were advances, but not yet an agreement. What is known is that the general elections set for April could now be held in September.
Meanwhile, the US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson announced a meeting in Argentina where the situation in Venezuela will be discussed. Rex Tillerson will travel to Buenos Aires on 3 February and stay two days in Argentina to participate in the regional meeting in the afternoon on the situation in Venezuela. Representatives from Brazil, Chile, Paraguay, Uruguay, Peru, Ecuador and Bolivia are expected to attend, according to local media.
“We want to maintain pressure on the corrupt regime of Venezuela,” State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert had said in a statement on Friday, 26 January 2018, condemning the snap presidential elections called by President Nicolas Maduro to be held before April 30.
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Diario Libre
1 February 2018
