Russia says world should foster Venezuela talks, not impose agenda

 

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov (L) and Cuba's First Secretary of the Communist Party and former President Raul Castro (C) arrive for the inauguration of the Statue of the Republic at the Capitol, in Havana, Cuba July 24, 2019. REUTERS/Fernando Medina

 

HAVANA (Reuters) - The international community should continue fostering dialogue between the government in Venezuela and the opposition, but not in order to impose its own agenda, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told reporters during a visit to Havana.

 

In the joint news conference with his Cuban counterpart Bruno Rodriguez, Lavrov said Havana and Moscow agree that Venezuela's political crisis should be resolved pacifically through dialogue and without foreign interference, in a jibe at the West.

 

Both countries are staunch allies of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro while most Western powers have recognised opposition leader Juan Guaido as the country's legitimate leader, arguing that Maduro's 2018 re-election was fraudulent.

 

Talks between the Venezuelan government and the country's opposition are continuing in Barbados, the foreign ministry of mediator Norway said late last week in a rare statement about the progress of the discussions. This was the latest round of talks that began in Norway in May in an effort to resolve the stalemate resulting from Maduro's disputed re-election.

 

"Regarding the contacts stimulating direct dialogue between the government and opposition - we want these to develop but again we want to mention that these should strengthen dialogue and not aim to impose" certain results, Lavrov said.

 

Russia's foreign ministry website on Tuesday cited interviews Lavrov had given in Latin America in which he said the situation in Venezuela was changing for the better.

 

Moscow had been in touch with Venezuela's opposition and told it not to "decide its domestic problems by provoking external interference," Lavrov was quoted as saying.

 

Rodriguez said on Wednesday Cuba remained profoundly loyal to the administration of Maduro.

 

(Reporting by Nelson Acosta and Sarah Marsh, editing by G Crosse)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2019-07-25

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9 hours ago, webfact said:

Talks between the Venezuelan government and the country's opposition are continuing in Barbados

Venezuelan government negotiator Hector Rodriguez said he anticipated a “complex path,” but one that leads to an “agreement of democratic co-existence” where each side recognizes the other.

https://www.capitalfm.co.ke/news/2019/07/venezuela-government-opposition-agree-to-pursue-crisis-talks/

I have suggested months ago as a possible solution to leadership of the nation a short-term "power-sharing" arrangement between Maduro and Guaido until another presidential election can be held, ie., 1-2 years. While I don't see Guaido sharing the Head of State with Maduro, Guaido might gain control of several key ministries such as (1) Minister of Interior & Justice, (2) National Industries and Industrial Production, (3) Oil & Gas and (4) Domestic Trade and Investment Affairs. In exchange Guaido might have to vacate his parliament seat as President of Parliament.