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Within the framework of the resumption of talks in Mexico, the Venezuelan government and the opposition signed an agreement that opens the door to funds to address the humanitarian crisis and reactivate the oil operations of the American Chevron.
An open door. The Venezuelan government and its opposition agreed this Saturday to create a fund managed by the United Nations to finance health, food and education programs to address the humanitarian crisis in the South American country, while the Joe Biden government eased some oil sanctions in an effort for promoting the recently started talks between the parties.
Sealed in Mexico City by representatives of President Nicolás Maduro and the opposition, including the faction backed by the United States and led by Juan Guaidó, the agreement is the starting signal for the resumption of negotiations stalled for five years that seek to solve the complex Venezuelan crisis.
In reaction, the United States has agreed to allow oil giant Chevron to pump Venezuelan oil, with the exception that Venezuela’s state-owned PDVSA receives no money from the activities.
The general terms of the agreement for the social fund managed by the United Nations were announced by the head of a group of Norwegian diplomats who are mediating the negotiations.
The Venezuelan resources retained in the international financial system will be directed to this fund, although neither party to the talks, nor Norway’s main facilitator, Dag Nylander, clarified whether the US or European governments agreed to allow the frozen assets to be transferred. channel to the new mechanism.
The funds would be focused on stabilizing the Venezuelan electrical network, improving educational infrastructure and dealing with the impact of this year’s rains and floods.
Reuters sources said the frozen funds amount to more than $3 billion. The money, held in Venezuelan-owned accounts abroad, was frozen by US and European banks after the US stepped up sanctions under President Donald Trump, designed to pressure President Nicolás Maduro to take steps towards free elections.
Antony Blinken, US Secretary of State, hailed the talks as “an important step toward restoring democracy to Venezuelans.” “We will look to the parties to reach lasting agreements that set the course for free and fair presidential elections in 2024,” he commented on Twitter.
Maduro: “Then we will see what other issues can be discussed”
Venezuelan President Nicolán Maduro also reacted on Twitter: “We will always seek dialogue with the entire Venezuelan society. We continue to take important steps for the well-being of our country.”
Maduro’s delegation is headed by congressional leader Jorge Rodríguez of the ruling United Socialist Party of Venezuela, PSUV, and the opposition group was headed by politician Gerardo Blyde.
Maduro reiterated that the objective of the talks was to recover the “kidnapped” resources for public investment: “Then we will see what other issues can be discussed,” he added.
The agenda covers the US sanctions on Venezuela, the conditions for the next presidential elections and the situation of hundreds of political prisoners, although these issues will not be discussed in this round of talks.
“This agreement provides the blueprint for how further progress can be ensured,” the European Union said in a statement.
Chevron may once again play a key role in Venezuela’s oil production and exports
Chevron Corp received the US license that allows the second largest US oil company to expand its production in Venezuela and take crude from the South American country to the United States.
The decision grants greater rights to the last major US oil company that continues to operate in Venezuela, a country sanctioned by the United States. However, it restricts any cash payments to Venezuela, which could reduce the oil available for export.
The license to Chevron Corp is designed to prevent the state oil company Petróleos de Venezuela, known as PDVSA, from receiving the profits from Chevron’s oil sales. The license is valid for six months, according to the US Treasury.
More than 7.1 million Venezuelans have fled their country this year according to the UN, many of them migrating to other Latin American countries or the United States, as Venezuela battles high inflation and shortages of food and medicine. Currently, more than half of Venezuelan emigrants do not have access to three meals a day, according to UN estimates.
with PA
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