Venezuela: Maduro regime and opposition deal over ‘issues of social needs’
The Venezuelan government and the country’s opposition signed “a second partial agreement on social protection” in Mexico City today at the end of negotiations closely followed by the US, France, Norway, Mexico and Colombia.
Representatives of President Nicolas Maduro and the opposition signed this agreement under the terms of the negotiations that represent “hope for all of Latin America” and “the triumph of politics,” hailed Mexican Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrar.
Venezuela’s government and opposition have simultaneously asked the United Nations to manage several billion dollars held in foreign banks, which will be gradually unfrozen to fight a humanitarian crisis in the Latin American country, officials from both sides said.
The US prevailed on the signing of this agreement with a high-ranking US official speaking of “an important step in the right direction”.
Shortly after the deal was announced, the US issued an expanded permit allowing Chevron Corp to import oil or oil products produced at its operations in Venezuela, after Venezuela’s government and opposition said they would resume political talks.
“This action reflects longstanding US policy to provide targeted sanctions relief based on concrete steps that alleviate the suffering of the Venezuelan people and support the restoration of democracy,” the US Treasury Department said in a statement.
A Chevron spokesman said the company is reviewing the terms of the permit.
Source: RES-MPE