On Thursday, Mexico and Uruguay said that negotiations were the only acceptable way to achieve a peaceful solution to the deepening political and humanitarian crisis in Venezuela, as they welcomed the release from jail of a top opposition figure.
In a joint statement, Mexico and Uruguay called for the release of all prisoners held in circumstances similar to key opposition figure Edgar Zambrano , vice president of the Venezuelan National Assembly , who was released on September 16.
“The governments of Mexico and Uruguay reiterate, as we have done on February 6 in Montevideo , that dialogue and negotiations are the only acceptable way to achieve a peaceful solution for the situation Venezuela faces,” the statement said.
Mexico’s Foreign Affairs Ministry (SRE)
has said that it hopes current dialogue efforts take place in an “inclusive [frame] of civility and peace ” to achieve “real and democratic [solutions] that promote trust between parties.”
Zambrano was arrested four months ago on treason charges . He was released following what allies said was strong popular pressure , but authorities said his case remains open.
On Sunday, Venezuela’s opposition said a dialogue mediated by Norway to try to resolve the political crisis had ended, six weeks after President Nicolás Maduro suspended his country’s participation.
On Monday, the government responded by announcing a deal with smaller opposition parties to resolve the South American country’s deep political divide by reforming the National Electoral Commission, accused of bias in favor of the ruling socialists .
That deal was not backed by allies of opposition leader Juan Guaidó .
This week, Guaidó has revealed that he proposed Maduro a transitional government in which none of them were present to guide the country to “real” presidential elections , to reactivate Venezuelan economy and to allow humanitarian aid to enter the country.
Maduro did not inform Norway’s foreign ministry , which was mediating a dialogue between his government and Guaido, about a side deal with a smaller sector of the opposition before it was announced earlier this week, a member of Guaido’s negotiating team said on Wednesday.
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