A first round of talks between Venezuelan government officials and representatives of the opposition that lasted from 10-13 January 2018, in Santo Domingo produced no significant breakthroughs. However, both sides agreed to continue talks on 18 January 2018, in the Dominican capital. The talks are being held at the convention hall of the Ministry of Foreign Relations.
President Danilo Medina, former Spanish President Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, Dominican Foreign Minister Miguel Vargas Maldonado and foreign ministers from Chile, Nicaragua, Bolivia and Mexico have been serving as mediators between the representatives of the Venezuelan government and the political opposition.
The most recent meetings took place from Wednesday, 10 January 2018 and concluded on Saturday evening, 13 January in Santo Domingo at the Ministry of Foreign Relations.
In his remarks on the meeting, President Danilo Medina said: “At the dialogue table we have agreed on the principle that nothing is agreed upon until all is agreed upon.”
Julio Borges, president of Venezuela’s National Assembly and lawmaker of the Venezuelan coalition of opposition parties (MUD), and spokesman for the opposition, said that agreements have been reached on several points, but other issues have not been resolved that have bogged down negotiations.
Mayor of Caracas Jorge Rodríguez, speaking for the Venezuelan government, said that the Venezuelan government would not yield to pressure.
Nevertheless, observers are hopeful a deal might be struck now that Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro’s cash-strapped administration needs support to refinance Venezuela’s rising foreign debt. The sides are hoping the discussions will stabilize Venezuela’s economy and maintain peace.
Venezuelans are scheduled to vote for a new president in 2018, but a date has not been set amidst the political and economic crisis affecting the country.
Read more in Spanish:
Listin Diario
TeleSurTV
15 January 2018
