Colombia: no concrete commitments at the end of the meeting on Venezuela

2023-04-26T04:52:09.764Z

Highlights: This Tuesday was held in Bogota a meeting to try to revive the dialogue between the Chavista government of Nicolas Maduro and its opposition. About twenty countries were represented, including the United States. But the head of European diplomacy Josep Borrel was the only major figure present. Neither the government of Maduro, with whom Petro has very good relations, nor the opposition were invited. Washington and the European Union are hesitating over lifting sanctions in exchange for transparent elections in 2024, Petro says.

Colombia: no concrete commitments at the end of the meeting on Venezuela

Bogota, Colombia, April 25, 2023: Colombian President Gustavo Petro hosts participants in an international meeting aimed at unblocking negotiations in Venzuela between the government of Nicolas Maduro and his opposition. REUTERS - LUISA GONZALEZ

Text by: RFI Follow

2 min

This Tuesday was held in Bogota a meeting to try to revive the dialogue between the Chavista government of Nicolas Maduro and its opposition, in view of the presidential elections of 2024. About twenty countries were represented, including the United States. But the head of European diplomacy Josep Borrel was the only major figure present.

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The meeting to talk about Venezuela was held without Venezuelans, reports our correspondent in Bogota, Marie-Eve Detoeuf. Neither the government of Nicolas Maduro, with whom Petro has very good relations, nor the opposition were invited.

The opponent Juan Guaido has attempted a media coup. Arriving Monday in Colombia by surprise, on foot and without going through the border post, he was asked by the Colombian authorities to leave the territory, which he did. He left for Miami.

► READ ALSO: The Venezuelan opponent Juan Guaido expelled from Bogota before an international conference on Venezuela

For Colombian President Gustavo Petro, who has re-established diplomatic relations with Venezuela and intends to pose as a regional leader, the objective of the Bogota meeting was to coordinate an international strategy. In other words, to convince Washington and the European Union that the economic sanctions against Venezuela have not achieved their goal, Nicolas Maduro is still in power. The Colombian president traveled to Washington last week to discuss sanctions with Joe Biden.

When Gustavo Petro pleaded last Thursday for a lifting of U.S. sanctions against the regime of Nicolas Maduro, the Biden administration indicated that it would do so only if political dialogue resumed in the country. "A strategy has been proposed (...) to hold elections first before lifting sanctions, or gradually, while the steps of an electoral calendar are fulfilled, sanctions also lifted in parallel," President Petro told reporters after the meeting.

The question remains whether, in exchange for lifting sanctions, Maduro could agree to transparent elections in 2024. Washington and the European Union are hesitating. According to the Colombian government, the Bogotá meeting resulted in "common positions". But no concrete commitments have been announced.

Colombia: no concrete commitments at the end of the meeting on Venezuela

Colombia: no concrete commitments at the end of the meeting on Venezuela

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