Voice of America
16 May 2019, 10:38 GMT+10
Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido confirmed Thursday he sent a team of negotiators to Norway to help mediate the crisis in the South American country but denied they were in talks with representatives of President Nicolas Maduro's government.
Guaido said at a political rally in Caracas "some envoys in Norway" were "trying to mediate" the political and economic crisis in Venezuela. It was the first official confirmation that talks were being attempted between the two sides after a months-long power struggle.
Representatives of the Venezuelan government and the opposition are in Norway.
Venezuelan officials said Wednesday Information Minister Jorge Rodriguez is representing President Maduro, while lawmaker Stalin Gonzalez is leading the opposition delegation.
Maduro said Rodriguez was on "a very important mission" abroad during a televised speech Wednesday, but did not provide any details.
The negotiations are being held after the military failed to heed a call on April 30 by Guaido to rise up against Maduro. Guaido, the leader of the National Assembly, declared himself president earlier this year after the opposition-majority legislature determined Maduro won another term in a fraudulent election.
The United States and about 50 other countries recognize Guaido as Venezuela's legitimate president. Venezuela has put the U.S. at odds with Russia -- which has supplied military equipment to the Maduro regime -- and Cuba, which the U.S. accuses of placing pro-Maduro troops on the ground in Venezuela.
Also on Wednesday, the U.S. has suspended all commercial flights between the U.S. and Venezuela.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao said she, along with the secretaries of state and homeland security, has determined conditions exist in Venezuela "that threaten the safety or security of passengers, aircraft, or crew."
Many international airlines, including those in the United States, have already stopped flying to and from Venezuela because of the political upheaval.
Get a daily dose of Herald Globe news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Herald Globe.
More InformationLONDON, UK - Lawmakers in the United Kingdom have voted overwhelmingly to proscribe the direct-action group Palestine Action as a terrorist...
DHARAMSHALA, India: The Dalai Lama is set to address a significant three-day conference of Buddhist leaders this week, coinciding with...
WASHINGTON, D.C.: In a significant ruling last week, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld a Texas law requiring age verification for users...
ISTANBUL/PARIS/BRUSSELS: As searing temperatures blanket much of Europe, wildfires are erupting and evacuation orders are being issued...
VENICE, Italy: Over the weekend, hundreds of protesters marched through the narrow streets of Venice to voice their opposition to billionaire...
PARIS, France: France is taking stronger steps to reduce smoking. A new health rule announced on Saturday will soon ban smoking in...
ABU DHABI, 3rd July, 2025 (WAM) -- The Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) and the National Basketball Association...
New Delhi [India], July 3 (ANI): The social media accounts of several Pakistani actors and cricketers remain blocked after it was reported...
Jaipur (Rajasthan) [India], July 2 (ANI): The much-anticipated LEGEN-Z T10 League will be played from August 7 to August 13 at the...
New Delhi [India], July 2 (ANI): The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Ombudsman Justice (Retd) Arun Mishra has directed...
Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], July 2 (ANI): Actor-comedian Kapil Sharma is back with another episode of 'The Great Indian Kapil Show,'...
Birmingham [UK], July 2 (ANI): Former head coach and cricketer Ravi Shastri didn't mince his words while expressing his discontent...