Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro said Friday that while he rejects the final declaration of the EU-backed International Contact Group, he would be open to a delegation sent by the group in order to promote peace talks between the government and the right-wing opposition.
Maduro, delivering a press conference Friday, hailed the efforts by the Montevideo Mechanism initiative which is supported by Bolivia, Mexico and Caricom, who also declined to sign the EU-sponsored resolution which set preconditions that infringe on Venezuela’s self-determination.
“We think it is very important that from Latin America, peace initiatives should emerge respecting Venezuelan sovereignty,” Maduro told a crowd of international journalists gathered at the presidential palace.
“The governments of Mexico, Uruguay, Bolivia, and Caricom signed a document called the Montevideo mechanism, which respectfully gives way to a dialogue between Venezuelans … We are in the immediate disposition to accompany any action that goes in the way of diplomacy, dialogue and meeting among Venezuelans.”