Venezuelan FM Discusses National Dialogue Prospects with EU Envoy
TEHRAN (Tasnim) - Venezuelan Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza held a meeting with the head of the division of South America at European External Action Service, Veronique Lorenzo, and the sides discussed prospects for a national dialogue in Venezuela.
"We had an intensive and interesting meeting with Veronique Lorenzo, the special envoy of EU foreign policy Chief Federica Mogherini. With the constitution at hand, we analyzed the developments in Venezuela and the need to launch the national sovereign dialogue without conditions," Arreaza said on Twitter, Sputnik reported.
This meeting took place ahead of a conference of an international contact group on Venezuela, comprising representatives from eight EU member states and four Latin American countries that will kick off in Montevideo, Uruguay on Thursday. The participants will address ways to resolve the current crisis in Venezuela.
Last week, the European Union announced the establishment of an international contact group, which will be coordinated by the European Union and will be operating for 90 days. The contact group's work will be aimed at creating a common understanding of the situation in Venezuela by key international players and will seek a peaceful resolution of the crisis.
The political crisis erupted in Venezuela after the leader of the opposition-led Venezuelan National Authority, Juan Guaido, proclaimed himself the country's interim president in late January, contesting Nicolas Maduro's re-election last year.
The opposition leader was recognized by the United States and some other countries. Russia, China and Iran, as well as several other nations, have backed Maduro as the country's legitimate president and demanded respect for the principle of non-interference in Venezuela's internal affairs.
