The interim president of Venezuela Juan Guaido said on Thursday he would not take part in a “false negotiation that does not lead to three things: end of the usurpation (Maduro’s presidency), a transitional government and free elections”
Guaido said that his representatives have been meeting in Norway with officials from the Maduro regime of incumbent, confirming reports on Friday by Norway that it was trying to mediate a solution to Venezuela’s political crisis, after opposition leader Juan Guaido said he sent delegates to Oslo but denied talks were underway with President Nicolas Maduro’s government.
Norway said in a statement it had had “preliminary contacts with representatives of the main political actors of Venezuela”.
These were “part of an exploratory phase, with the aim of contributing to finding a solution to the situation in the country.”
“There are some envoys in Norway,” Guaido told a rally of his supporters in Caracas on Thursday. “Yes, there are some people who were sent to Norway,” he said during a meeting with supporters in Caracas.
The mediation bid comes after a months-long power struggle between the Guaido and the Maduro, amid sometimes deadly street clashes.
Maduro did not confirm the meetings but later said a close adviser, Communications Minister Jorge Rodriguez, was “on a very important mission for peace in the country … in Europe” and would return shortly.
Secınd Round of Secret Oslo peace talks between Maduro and Guaido: Flights of Interest: Bombardier Global Express owned by Turkish MNG jet #TCTSR, returned from Oslo Gardermoen to #Venezuela #Caracas Simón Bolívar, stayed at #Maiquetía briefly and now continues, likely to Mexico. pic.twitter.com/X7mIuHIDBG
— Yörük Işık (@YorukIsik) May 17, 2019
Norway’s NRK radio and television network, quoting anonymous sources, earlier reported that talks had taken place over “several days” at a secret Oslo location and the delegations were due to return to Caracas on Thursday.
Guaido, who swore in as acting president on Jan. 23, denounces Maduro’s May 2018 re-election as illegitimate, a position shared by the United States and other among more than 50 nations who have recognized Guaido as the leader of Venezuela.
Russia and China continue to acknowledge Maduro as president.
