Nicolás Maduro has enthusiastically joined the initiative of his Colombian ally, Gustavo Petro, who has called for an international summit in Bogotá next week with European countries (including Spain), the United States and Latin American governments. "All support for the success of the international conference. (It is) a group of countries to support Venezuela in strengthening our peace and our democracy. Good opportunity to turn the page on sanctions," responded the "people president" during the launch of his new television program, "Con Maduro +".

The Bolivarian leader pointed out that his meeting this Sunday with Colombian Foreign Minister Alvaro Leyva, which lasted almost three hours, served to specify that the main objective of both parties is the withdrawal of sanctions, as reiterated today in New York Petro himself. The coffee president will meet on Friday with Joe Biden with a declaration of intent as a business card: "That there are no sanctions and that there is more democracy in Venezuela."

Petro has also conveyed to his interlocutors in Washington the need to withdraw the reward of 15 million dollars for anyone who helps the arrest of Maduro.

The Colombian government counts for the International Conference on the Political Process in Venezuela on the 25th in Bogotá with the presence of 18 countries and the European Union, including Canada and other nearby governments of Latin America, unconfirmed, such as Brazil, Chile and Argentina. The initial objective would be to unblock the dialogue table opened in Mexico between the government and the opposition, which has the mediation of Norway. Maduro perceives these countries as a kind of "support group" for his demands.

"It is a good opportunity to seek ways to overcome this era of sanctions and blockades," insisted Maduro, who for the moment will not travel to Bogota, although in his political agenda the visit to Colombia is indicated in capital letters in the face of its international whitening. Petro has already traveled three times to Caracas and the department of Táchira, on Venezuela's side of the border, since assuming the presidency of his country in August last year. In recent months, fraternal ties have been strengthened between the two presidents, who agreed to reopen the border and reactivate trade.

Who does plan to travel to the Colombian capital next Saturday is the opposition delegation, led by former mayor Gerardo Blyde, with the aim of meeting with Petro on his return from Washington, sources from the Unitary Platform confirmed to EL MUNDO. The members of the G-3 (Justice First, A New Time and Democratic Action) have eagerly sought a meeting with the leftist leader.

The main demand of the opposition is that the elections scheduled for next year be democratic and fair, something that does not happen today. Two of the nine anti-Chavista candidates in the October primaries, Henrique Capriles and Juan Guaidó, are disqualified by Chavismo.

"Removing sanctions extinguishes the possibility of an agreement and will give a blank check to the regime to continue violating human rights. President Petro, are you going to behave like an ally of Maduro or of the Venezuelans? Will he speak out against political persecution and the free press?" asked Guaidó, the former president in charge of Venezuela.

  • Nicolas Maduro
  • Gustavo Petro
  • Venezuela
  • Colombia

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