Venezuela: Government and opposition sign agreement to start dialogue in Mexico

Dialogue of opposition and Venezuelan government begins 5:13

(CNN) -

Representatives of the Venezuelan government and the opposition signed a joint statement in Mexico City on Friday, in which they pledged to begin a process of negotiations to end the country's political stalemate.

The joint declaration was signed by the representative of the Government Jorge Rodríguez and the delegate of the opposition Gerardo Blyde.

It is the first step towards a comprehensive agreement with the aim of solving the deep political and social crisis in Venezuela.

Rodríguez is president of the National Assembly of Venezuela and a close ally of the questioned President Nicolás Maduro.

On the other hand, Blyde was appointed head of the opposition delegation by Juan Guaidó, an opposition leader recognized as interim president of Venezuela by the United States and several Latin American countries since 2019.

Negotiation between Maduro and the opposition begins 3:25

Dag Nylander, representative of Norway and main moderator in the negotiation, also signed the document as a witness.

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The document lists seven negotiating points agreed upon by both parties, which include holding free and fair elections and a joint commitment to renounce political violence.

Also among the issues is the lifting of the sanctions imposed by the United States on Venezuela since 2017.

• The objectives of the ruling party and the Venezuelan opposition for dialogue in Mexico

Both parties undertook to participate in the negotiations in good faith and to defend the outcome of the agreement.

The negotiation will be moderated by Norway and will take place in Mexico over the next few months.

Russia and the Netherlands will assist the government and the opposition, respectively.

Will the talks in Mexico bear fruit?

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