Friday United Nations (U.N.) Secretary-General Antonio Guterres showed support for a peaceful solution for Venezuela, expressing that he is "very much supportive" of the talks between the Latin American nation's government and opposition representatives, which took place in Norway.
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The government of Norway, through a release, confirmed Friday that preliminary contact had been made with political representatives from the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.
The Scandinavian country explained that the meeting was “an exploratory phase” aimed at “contributing to finding a solution to the situation in the country.”
U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric, who erred on the side of caution, added that he did not "want to predict what can happen in what we know is a complicated situation, but what is clear is that the secretary-general's good offices, the United Nations' good offices, remain very much available" if called upon to participate in or accommodate further talks.
According to Al Jazeera, Norway's NRK radio and television network, quoting anonymous sources, reported that the talks between Venezuelan opposition and government officials had taken place at a secret location in the Norwegian capital for "several days."
However, the government’s statement did not offer any information regarding the duration of the meeting but detailed that Oslo “commends the parties for their efforts. We reiterate our willingness to continue supporting the search for a peaceful solution for the country.”
The Norway talks come as Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro hosted members of the International Contact Group (ICG) at Miraflores Palace.
Important meeting with the International Contact Group that visits Venezuela. I expressed my willingness to resolve internal differences through dialogue and we talked about the economic aggressions of the US empire. against our People.
Venezuela’s Ministry for Communication and Information issued a release confirming the attendance of several GIC officials: Spain’s Juan Pablo de LaIglesia, Italy’s Ricardo Merlo, Portugal’s Jose Luis Carneiro, Sweden’s Annika Söder and Uruguay’s Ariel Bergamino.
The ICG consists of eight European countries, the European Union, and four Latin American countries.
Additionally, European External Action Service (EEAS) official Hugo Sobral and European Union ambassador Isabel Brilhante were also present.