Venezuelan government, opposition leaders continue dialogue

Government and Venezuelan opposition representatives are continuing a dialogue aimed at finding a common path out of their country’s political standoff

MEXICO CITY -- Government and Venezuelan opposition representatives on Friday continued a dialogue aimed at finding a common path out of their country’s political standoff. The groups met in Mexico City two weeks after signing a memorandum of understanding that marked the start of the negotiations. The delegates of President Nicolás Maduro and the opposition, led by Juan Guaidó, were expected to debate issues such as conditions for elections and the lifting of foreign economic sanctions imposed on the government. Last month’s release from prison of opposition leader Freddy Guevara, as well as the opposition coalition's announcement this week that it would participate in upcoming regional elections, were seen by both sides as the first results of the process, which is expected to last at least six months. Maduro indicated this week that his delegation will demand the lifting of the economic sanctions imposed on his government more than three years ago by the U.S. and other countries and the freeing of some of Venezuela’s assets abroad.