Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodriguez expressed her hope that the dialogue with the United States would "develop" after the surprise visit of a high-level US delegation to Caracas, where they met with President Nicolas Maduro.
"This is an initial rapprochement, which we hope will develop in the framework of diplomacy and constructive dialogue," Rodriguez said on Friday.
At the Antalya Diplomatic Forum in Turkey, the Venezuelan Vice President explained that the meeting with the Americans "was a rapprochement without commitment. We understand that initial rapprochements cannot be conditional and that this rapprochement occurred within the framework of bilateral relations."
It is noteworthy that Venezuela severed diplomatic relations with the United States in 2019.
The United States tried to oust President Maduro, who did not recognize his re-election in 2018, by imposing a package of sanctions on Venezuela, especially the ban on importing oil from it.
Before the 2019 break in relations, the United States was the main buyer of Venezuelan oil.
Like his late predecessor Hugo Chavez, President Maduro regularly attacks "American imperialism" in his speeches.
Oil and respect
"Venezuela did not withdraw from the United States, it was the United States that withdrew from Venezuela and cut energy, economic and cooperation ties," Delsey Rodriguez added.
"We maintain our position: the doors of Venezuela are open to any country that wants to come with respect, considers us an equal, and respects the principle of self-determination for the Venezuelan people," the Venezuelan official added.
Rodriguez saw that the first meeting held last weekend between Caracas and Washington after years of tension is an "example" of how to resolve the conflict.
She stressed that the solution "must be dialogue, and there can be no other way because other ways than peace, negotiation, dialogue and international law cause deep suffering to peoples."
Since the meeting, President Nicolas Maduro announced the resumption of dialogue with the opposition, and the release of two Americans detained in Venezuela, without Caracas officially revealing a causal relationship between the two decisions and the US visit.