Inclusion, Transparency Strengthens New Political Coexistence Agreement in Venezuela

On Monday the Venezuelan Government signed an agreement with representatives of the opposition to resume national peace talks and undertake concrete steps within a stable climate, seeking to continue a discussion about the political and social-economic rights of all Venezuelans, and find a solution to political differences within its National Constitution.

Opposition representatives Claudio Fermin (Party for Solutions for Venezuela), Timoteo Zambrano (Cambiemos Party) and Luis Romero (Avanzada Progresive Party) met with members of the Venezuelan Government at the seat of the Foreign Ministry, in Caracas, and agreed upon a number of points.

According to the statement from those involved, the discussions took place, “with a view to strengthen and spread political and institutional dialog, so that the members of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) and allied parties can go back to the National Assembly.”

Likewise, they agreed to deal with the creation of a new National Electoral Council (CNE) as soon as possible to take up urgent issues, together with providing electoral guarantees required for voting processes.

As a start the different sides urged the national justice system, through its Commission for Truth, to review and “take measures regarding the prison terms in cases in which the Venezuelan legal framework is allowed to do so.”

Venezuela’s historic and legitimate rights concerning the Essequibo territory were reiterated in the agreement, amidst national unity, and urging “political negotiation as it is envisaged on the 1966 Geneva Agreement, as the only valid legal instrument to mitigate the situation, and that was delivered to the United Nations Organization, which manages this territorial dispute.”

The sides also condemned the economic sanctions imposed against Venezuela as these violate International Law, and they proposed to create an instrument to exchange oil for medicines and basic food goods through the technical mechanism existing in the United Nations System.

As the stakeholders reached an understanding, according to the statement, talks will continue in the pursuit of partial agreements aimed at balance among the institutions of the country, such as the National Constituent Assembly and lifting the National Assembly’s contempt of court, so that future electoral processes can take place in a climate of broad electoral guarantees.

Furthermore, they are expecting to reach consensus about proportional representation as it is established in the Venezuelan Constitution.

Finally, they mentioned that they are expecting that public companies can work in coordination with the private sector.

Source URL: Resumen Latinoamericano – English