(MEXICO CITY) – Mexico is “ready and willing” to host talks between the Venezuelan government and its opposition, Mexican Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard said on Twitter on Wednesday, May 18th.
U.S. officials familiar with the matter said on Tuesday, May 17th, that Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and the opposition were expected to resume talks as Washington began easing some sanctions to smooth the way for negotiations.
“The United States supports a peaceful and negotiated outcome to the Venezuelan political and economic and humanitarian crisis,” a US official said.
The US official stressed that the easing would not permit Chevron to actually reach an agreement with PDVSA or undertake work inside or on behalf of Venezuela, where the oil sector has been hampered by international sanctions.
“Very clearly, none of these alleviations of pressure would lead to an increase in revenue for the regime,” the official said.
“We are going to calibrate our sanctions policy accordingly to increase pressure or alleviate pressure on the basis of ambitious concrete and irreversible outcomes that empower the Venezuelan people to determine the future of their country through democratic elections,” the official added.
Source: El Universal
