US Delegation arrives in Venezuela again for Talks: Maduro

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
28 Jun 2022 08:00
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Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro affirms that a US delegation is visiting to Caracas to continue talks that began on March 5.

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro (Reuters)

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro stated that a government delegation from the United States has arrived in Caracas to continue talks that began on March 5.

"[Parliament speaker] Jorge Rodriguez is receiving a delegation of the United States government, an important delegation that... is working to continue the negotiations that started on March 5," Maduro said on the local TV channel Venezolana de Televisión (VTV).

Following the break in diplomatic relations in 2019, the first public visit of a US delegation to Venezuela occurred on March 5.

President Maduro commented on the talks at the time, saying that the parties agreed to work on an agenda of mutual interest.

In May, amid the US’ quest to increase oil production worldwide, Washington approved the resumption of operations in Venezuela for US and European oil companies, and the State Department, according to media reports, allowed Italy's Eni and Spain's Repsol to resume oil supplies from Venezuela to Europe in June.

For over 15 years, the US has imposed harsh sanctions on Venezuela and Venezuelan individuals. In March, the global energy crisis has put pressure on US officials to find alternatives to Russian oil. As Venezuela sits atop the world’s largest oil reserves, the US seeks to ease its sanctions on the country.

“Ready to host French companies”

Elsewhere in his remarks, Maduro expressed Venezuela's readiness to receive French companies willing to invest in the oil and energy sector in the country.

"I would say to [French] President [Emmanuel] Macron that Venezuela is ready to host all French companies that want to come to extract oil and gas for the world market, whenever they want, the road has been passed, we are ready and disposed for it," Maduro said in his speech broadcast.

It is worth noting that the French president called, on Monday, for diversification of oil supplies to the market at the expense of resources from Iran and Venezuela.

A new stage of cooperation with Colombia

Regarding Venezuela’s relationship with Colombia, the president affirmed that "a new stage of peace relations, brotherhood, and cooperation with Colombia seems to be opening on the horizon (...) A new stage in the search for peace, Colombia's peace is the peace of Venezuela and South America, in the search for economic, commercial and cultural cooperation".

"As I said a week ago to President-elect Gustavo Petro, I will work and I ask for the support of the whole Venezuelan society so that we can achieve brotherhood, cooperation, and union between Colombia and Venezuela in a new stage," he added.

He also stated that his administration would work to pacify the two countries' 2,200-kilometer border.

Colombia elected the first-ever left-wing president Gustavo Petro on June 19, after beating millionaire businessman Rodolfo Hernandez in a tense and unpredictable runoff election.