Maduro upbeat on Dominican Govt.’s ‘invitation’ to talks

Caracas.- Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro on Tues. accepted the “invitation” by the Dominican Government and former head of Spanish government, José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, to resume the talks with the opposition.

“I want to announce that … I accept this new effort of dialogue,” the Venezuelan leader said on State media, referring to what he called an “invitation” from the Dominican Republic and Rodríguez Zapatero.

Maduro noted that the proposal implies “installing in the next hours a new effort of dialogue for peace and for Venezuelan democracy.”

Venezuelan Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza told French counterpart Jean-Yves Le Drian in Paris on Tuesday that talks will begin on Wednesday in the Dominican Republic.

For what appears to be a new process of talks, the Venezuelan president appointed Jorge Rodríguez, current mayor of Caracas, to represent his government at the meeting and to “continue the dialogue efforts.”

He said that he’s totally committed with the invitation, “to keep things going and to move forward.”

“I won’t say any more. I would like to say a lot more but I shouldn’t, we must be prudent so that in this opportunity, the dialogue for the peace and sovereignty of Venezuela will be fruitful.”