The former President of the Spanish government, José Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, called for some serious thinking by the opposition and the Venezuelan government in order to achieve an agreement to end the crisis in that nation. The talks, that had been taking place in the Ministry of Foreign Relations in Santo Domingo, were an attempt to reduce the tensions and crisis in Venezuela.
Rodriguez Zapatero said: “It is absolutely necessary that an agreement be reached,” as he entered the Ministry of Foreign Relations on 7 February 2018, for the continuing of the talks. He pointed out that the Venezuelan opposition presented a list of observations to the proposed agreement. These points include guarantees regarding the electoral process, participation of international observers, a new date for the elections and several other points.
When the Spanish leader was asked about the consequences of not signing an agreement, he replied, “If you think about this for just 15 seconds you realize that the alternative to an agreement is extremely negative for the people of Venezuela and for Latin America.”
Joining Rodríguez Zapatero at the talks was the Bolivian Minister of Foreign Affairs, the ambassador from Chile in the Dominican Republic and the Minister of Foreign Relations of the Dominican Republic, Miguel Vargas.
8 February 2018
