President Nicolas Maduro announced today that a delegation representing the government is back in Mexico for a new round of talks with the opposition, confident that new agreements and positive results will materialize.
“Once again, our delegation is arriving in Mexico to continue the day of dialogue with the Venezuelan opposition. In the process of conversation and debate, from which we expect new agreements and positive results for the people of Venezuela, ”wrote Nicolas Maduro on his Twitter account.
The message was accompanied by a photograph of several people descending the plane, including the head of the delegation representing the Venezuelan government, Jorge Rodriguez.
However, the local press published photographs of the arrival in Mexico of seven of the nine members of the government delegation holding posters with a photograph of businessman Alex Saab, who is considered to be the front person of Nicolas Maduro.
The arrival comes after the United Platform of Venezuela (PUV) announced that it is in Mexico awaiting a delegation representing Nicolas Maduro for a new round of talks, which was to begin Friday.
“Given the absence of a regime delegation, the PUV delegation reaffirms its commitment to moving forward in this process, always within the framework of the rules previously agreed upon in the Memorandum of Understanding,” signed jointly, the statement said.
In the document, the opposition explains that it is in Mexico that “is promoting the Constitution of the Bureau of Social Assistance to promote programs for baby nutrition, transplantation and vaccination, among others equally important.”
“We are here to open a discussion about building a justice system. Venezuela is a country where the judicial system has been hijacked, prosecuted and arrested for dissidents, and fostered impunity. Its restoration is a fundamental requirement for the restoration of our rights, the return of the right to elect to the Venezuelans and the restoration of democracy, which is our main goal, ”the document says.
The government, chaired by Nicolas Maduro and the Venezuelan opposition, allied with former Speaker of Parliament Juan Guaido, planned to resume the third round of talks in Mexico on Friday, the first after Caracas announced that businessman Alex Saab is being held in prison. Cape Verde, awaiting extradition to the United States, will be included as a “full member” of the delegation representing the government of Nicolas Maduro.
Between 13 and 16 August, the Venezuelan government and the opposition held the first round of talks in Mexico, which culminated in the signing of an agreement expressing the intention to reach agreement on the “necessary conditions” for elections in accordance with the Constitution, understanding that international sanctions must be lifted. “
In the second round of negotiations, which took place from September 3 to 6, two agreements were signed to protect sovereignty and free up resources to counter the crisis and pandemic.
On September 14, Jorge Rodriguez, representing President Nicolas Maduro, announced the inclusion of businessman Alex Saab as a “full member” of the government’s negotiating delegation.
Alex Saab, 49, from Colombia, who is believed to be a front man for Nicolas Maduro, was detained by Interpol and the Cape Verdean authorities on June 12, 2020, during a technical stop at Amilcar Cabral International Airport on Sal Island.
The arrest was based on an international arrest warrant issued by the United States when Saab was traveling to Iran on behalf of Venezuela as a “special envoy” and with a diplomatic passport.
Washington is demanding his extradition, accusing him of laundering $ 350 million (€ 295 million) to pay for the corrupt actions of the Venezuelan president through the US financial system.
