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- Maduro seeks meetings with wider opposition, U.S. ambassador
- Russia to continue as a companion of Maduro’s government
political opposition scheduled for next month in Mexico, President Maduro said. (Pixabay / MT)
Andreina Itriago Acosta, Bloomberg News
CARACAS
EnergiesNet.com 03 11 2022
Venezuela’s government is prepared to restart talks with opposition politicians as President Nicolas Maduro tries to capitalize on an opening with the U.S. to improve relations.
Francisco Torrealba, a member of Maduro’s negotiating team, said the government is willing to resume talks in Mexico with a “wider” group that includes other members of the opposition and U.S. Ambassador to Venezuela James Story. Russia will continue to help represent the Maduro government when the talks resume, Torrealba said.
Maduro abandoned the negotiations last year when his ally, Colombian businessman Alex Saab, was extradited to the U.S. to face money laundering charges. The government still considers Saab’s release the “optimal situation,” Torrealba said, but that is no longer a singular condition for it to return to the negotiating table.
“We are ready to go back to Mexico,” he said in an interview. “Mexico should incorporate other opposition sectors at the table, not just one. That makes no sense to us.” He said the opposition should include members from both the moderate and radical sectors.
There is no timetable for the parties to return to Mexico, and neither side has agreed to the makeup of their delegations. But the openness to more talks — which are aimed at reaching political and economic agreements — is a shift from the Maduro government.
Read more: Venezuela Tries Capitalism and Its Migrants Start Coming Home
It comes amid a flurry of activity in the last week: Maduro hosted senior Biden administration officials on Saturday to discuss the easing of sanctions on the oil industry. Days later, the government released two jailed American political prisoners.
Meanwhile, the U.S. has warmed to the idea of negotiating directly with Maduro as it seeks to boost oil output and distance Russia from its allies, although it clarified Thursday that importing Venezuelan oil is not currently an active conversation. The U.S. hasn’t formally recognized the Maduro government since 2019 when it threw its support behind opposition figure Juan Guaido, calling him the legitimate interim leader.
Torrealba, a lawmaker from Portuguesa state, said the inclusion of Ambassador Story would promote a more direct dialogue. The State Department did not immediately respond to a message seeking comment.
On Wednesday, the Biden administration said resuming talks was an “encouraging sign.” Guaido expressed the opposition’s willingness to resume the process. “Venezuela needs an urgent agreement,” he said in a statement.
Gerardo Blyde, the head of the opposition delegation, declined to comment.
Torrealba’s comments shed light on remarks made by Maduro on Monday when he called for a more “inclusive” national dialogue, adding that he sought to reform the makeup of the negotiations. National Assembly head Jorge Rodriguez is expected to give more details about the government’s position in coming days.
bloomberg.com 03 10 2022
