CARACAS: Foreign mediators trying to bring crisis-hit Venezuela back from the abyss announced Thursday a bid to get embattled President Nicolas Maduro's government and the opposition to sit down for talks.
But the "national dialogue" initiative, unveiled by former Spanish prime minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero in a Caracas news conference, will be an uphill battle given the unrelenting antagonism and obstinancy shown so far by both sides, and Venezuela's economic meltdown.
Indeed, both sides dug in hours after the talks were announced.
"It is a long, hard and difficult path," Zapatero admitted, urging support from the international community.
"We must be prudent" about the chances of success, he said.
The opposition coalition issued a statement saying the talks must focus on a recall referendum that it is orchestrating against Maduro.
Maduro has previously dismissed the proposed vote as "not valid" and vowed it will not go ahead.
On the mediated talks, he said Thursday evening he hoped they would lead the opposition to drop their "coup-oriented attitude."
Maduro said it remains to be seen if the opposition "will collaborate in a process of dialogue so the country can overcome its problems and we Venezuelans can move forward in peace."
The attempted mediation is taking place under a national state of emergency ordered by Maduro but rejected by the opposition-controlled congress.
The decree gives sweeping powers to security forces to impose public order and help distribute food in a country plagued by shortages of basic goods like soap and toilet paper.
The Supreme Court upheld the order as constitutional Thursday evening "given the extraordinary social, economic, political, natural and ecological circumstances that are gravely affecting the national economy."
On Friday and Saturday, Venezuela's military will also be conducting war games ordered by Maduro to show preparedness against what he says are mounting internal and foreign security threats, particularly from the United States.
Zapatero is leading the mediation team, which also comprises the former presidents of Panama and the Dominican Republic, Martin Torrijos and Leonel Fernandez.
They have been in Caracas since Tuesday, at the invitation of Maduro. On Thursday they had separate meetings with the Venezuelan president and with opposition leaders.
Comments
Comments are closed.