Negotiations between Venezuela and the United States, aiming to ease economic sanctions against Caracas in exchange for creating better conditions for holding the 2024 presidential elections, showed their first concrete impact in Barbados. The Government of Nicolás Maduro and the opposition Democratic Unitary Platform (PUD) held a “Partial agreement to support political rights and electoral guarantees for all“For next year’s elections.
“In any case We have always sought dialogueIn his statement on his social network X account, Maduro said, “This path has not been easy, but we are slowly progressing thanks to the conscience and strength of our heroic people.” By taking the first step towards the complete removal of all sanctions, gradual improvement of social well-being, Economic growth, consolidation of peace and democracy within the framework of full sovereignty and national independence.”
PUD chairman Gerardo Blyde also expressed satisfaction with the step, taken just five days before opposition primaries in which a common candidate must emerge to confront Maduro. “Today, we can announce that this constant patience and struggle, on the part of both Venezuelans and our allies in the international community, has taken the first step in their tracks. A way to improve the electoral process with concrete guarantees and thus achieve political change“.
The documents sealing this understanding were signed by approximately twenty members of the negotiating parties in the presence of Barbados Foreign Minister Jerome Walcott and US representatives. NorwayThe country facilitates negotiations and Netherlands, Russia, Mexico, Brazil and Colombia. This last country, which is adjacent to Venezuela and where nearly two million immigrants live, played a very important role in this rapprochement.
Agreed points
The parties agreed to update, audit and purify the voter registers on special days in order to encourage new voter registrations across the country and abroad. They committed to contribute to the political and social climate that supports the peaceful development of elections. “without external pressures”. Madurismo and the PUD agreed to reject all forms of violence in political practices and to support security and freedom of movement for all presidential candidates. Miraflores Palace and opposition “recognize and respect” The right of every political actor to choose his own candidate“It will hold the presidential elections freely and in accordance with its own internal mechanisms, taking into account the provisions of the Constitution and the law.”
They also reaffirmed the right of political actors to control mechanisms. transparent financing and determined to promote a promotion Balance in public and private media during the election campaign.
A joint document was also signed that referred to Venezuela’s “historic rights” over the Essequibo region, which is in dispute with Guyana. To defend the property of Citgo Petroleum, Venezuelan oil refinery and gasoline, lubricant and petrochemical marketing company operating in the United States, which, according to Maduro, was “hijacked” by the Trump administration in 2019 to facilitate its attempt to remove him from power. The government and the opposition have expressed their desire to retrieve money frozen in foreign banks for four years, with lawmaker Juan Guaidó declaring himself “interim president” with the support of the republican leader. Norwegian mediator Dag NylandeIn this context, he emphasized that the agreement on “protecting the vital interests of the nation” aims to “defend national sovereignty as well as protect assets abroad”.
Sincerity of conversations
The Palace of Miraflores reported this Tuesday what all analysts know with varying degrees of detail: throughout this year, according to Maduro, talks were held with representatives of Joe Biden to lift economic sanctions from Washington and the EU. The reason for the economic disaster in the country. These negotiations, together with the negotiations with the opposition”Healing the social wounds caused by illegitimate economic aggression“. With the Barbados agreements, the government adds: “Venezuela is taking another step towards ending punitive unilateral coercive measures against our people and restoring the state of prosperity provided by the Bolivarian revolution.”
The timid thaw between Washington and Caracas is due in particular to the consequences of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on the international crude oil market. Venezuela’s status as a major exporter opened the door to Chevron’s active participation in that country, with prior authorization from the United States.