After sanctions and embargoes on the natural resources that Russia exports, especially gas and oil, the West desperately needs to turn to other countries. Even those considered corrupt and therefore to be destroyed like Venezuela. Another country that is subject to severe US sanctions and has been joined by the European Union.
But now the wind seems to be changing. The US government announced that it has allowed the Chevron Oil Company to resume extraction of limited natural resources in Venezuela after the resumption of dialogue between the Venezuelan government and the opposition.
According to the US Treasury, the move reflects long-term US policy “to provide targeted sanctions relief based on concrete actions that alleviate the suffering of the Venezuelan people.” However, the suffering was inflicted – it should always be remembered – by the Washington government itself in collaboration with the Venezuelan extremist and coup-led opposition remotely controlled by the United States.
The US Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control announced the move, and Chevron immediately issued a statement.
“Following this announcement and in accordance with U.S. government policy, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) issued Venezuela General License (GL) 41, which authorizes Chevron Corporation to resume limited natural resource extraction operations in Venezuela,” the Treasury statement read.
This license – the text specifies – “indicates that US persons are authorized to provide goods and services for certain activities, as defined in GL 41, and that non-US persons generally are not at risk of exposure to US sanctions.”
In the text, the US government also welcomes progress in dialogue between the national government and the opposition sector.
“The United States welcomes and supports the reopening of negotiations (…) as part of our long-term policy to support the peaceful restoration of democracy,” the text reads.
Meanwhile, the dialogue continues. Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has described the peace talks between the government and the opposition as an important step for the country’s well-being.
“The signing of the second partial agreement between the Bolivarian government that I preside over and the unified program of an opponent paves the way for a new chapter for Venezuela, to continue the progress towards the peace and well-being that all Venezuelans yearn for,” the president wrote on his Twitter account.
The signing of the Second Partial Agreement between the Bolivarian Government Presiding and the Consolidated Platform of one of the Parties, opens the door to a new chapter for Venezuela, in the task of following the progress of peace and the goodwill of Venezuelans join. pic.twitter.com/PcVeXKlDbM
– Nicolas Maduro (@Nicolas Maduro) November 26, 2022
“I welcome the peace talks between the legitimate government of Venezuela and the unified platform of an opponent. The commitment will always be to dialogue with the entire Venezuelan society, and today, November 26, we continue to take important steps for the well-being,” Maduro said.
The signed document stipulates a series of humanitarian issues, including the return of legitimate resources, property of the Venezuelan government, “blocked in the international financial system.”
According to a government statement, the total funds amount to about $2.7 billion, which will be used to strengthen the national health system in terms of equipment, infrastructure and medicines, in addition to strengthening energy services, education and taking care of natural emergencies.
The parties also intend to establish a trust fund to expand social protection measures with the support and guidelines of the United Nations. They also agreed to create a National Round Table of Social Concern, which will serve as “an auxiliary technical body for the table of dialogue and negotiations, which will work to implement specific social concern actions and programs for the Venezuelan people.”
The President of the National Assembly and the head of the delegation of the Venezuelan government, Jorge Rodriguez, confirmed that the delegation he represents is ready to continue talks with the opposition in the country, while respecting the seven points on the agenda in accordance with the memorandum of understanding.
He stressed that this dialogue process takes place within the framework of respecting the Constitution of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.
“The constitution defines how the executive, legislative, judicial and electoral powers are formed, and how the moral authority of the Venezuelan Republic is formed… Any conversation we have with the various sectors of the Venezuelan opposition must be conducted with absolute respect for these,” Rodriguez said.
He also stressed that the mechanism of dialogue with the executive bodies of the various projects and with experts, regardless of political ideology, is working.
“We have met everyone and we will continue to do so,” Rodriguez confirmed.
Mexican Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard confirmed that the agreement between the Venezuelan government and a sector of the opposition is hope for Latin America and the victory of politics.
“President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said we should seek mediation, understanding and communication, and that is Mexico’s role,” said the senior Mexican official.
The Kingdom of Norway also participates in the mediation between the two parties. The Norwegian chief negotiator, Dag Nylander, expressed his deep gratitude to the Mexican government and its Foreign Minister Ebrard for receiving the various participants in the dialogue and negotiation process.
“We will not only celebrate the resumption of dialogue and the negotiating table between the Bolivarian government and the Unified Program, but we will also celebrate the signing of a partial agreement that will consolidate important progress for the protection of the Venezuelan people,” he said, the Norwegian exponent.
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