The European Union, Mexico and Uruguay discuss in Montevideo of a way out of crisis in Venezuela

A group of countries with diverse positions on Venezuela will try Thursday in Montevideo to seek a way out of the crisis of the Caribbean nation, at times when the impulse between dictator Nicolás Maduro and the Speaker of Parliament, Juan Guaidó, is focused on humanitarian aid.

The European Union (EU), eight bloc countries and five Latin American countries will meet around noon in the Montevideo presidential tower, with the end of "to help create the conditions for a peaceful and political process" to the serious political crisis that is shaking Venezuela.

Originally convened by Mexico and Uruguay as a meeting of the "neutral countries" to seek a solution to the Venezuelan crisis, the meeting is finally co-organized by the EU, who joined the group after launching an international contact group, which was later joined by others three countries in Latin America (Ecuador, Costa Rica and Bolivia).

The meeting does not include representatives of the Maduro regime or the Venezuelan opposition.

Dialogue yes, dialogue not

Maduro supported Wednesday "all steps and initiatives to facilitate dialogue" and affirmed that his government is "ready" to participate in a process of understanding.

"To God praying with dialogue comprehensive diplomacy (…) and with the mallet giving, with oiled guns to defend the national sovereignty"said the socialist president.

But Guaidó, who was proclaimed interim president on January 23 and was recognized by some forty countries under the leadership of the United States, reiterated that "the Venezuelan opposition (…) will not lend itself to a false dialogue" this allows Maduro to save time.

The meeting is held in a moment of tension because of the arrival of humanitarian aid to Venezuela, especially sent by the United States, following the blockade by the army of a bridge on the border with Colombia, where a drug and food collection center was created.

Guaidó, 35 years, He urged the military not to block the entrance of help, that Maduro rejects as the spearhead of an invasion.

With the shortages of food and medicine, as well as the expected inflation of 10 000 000% by the IMF for this year, Venezuela is immersed in the worst crisis in its modern history which has caused an exodus of some 2.3 million people since 2015, according to the UN.

Monday, most European governments -21 of the 28 members of the EU-rGuaidó was recognized after the expiration of an ultimatum of the block for Maduro to call elections, despite the fact that they attend the meeting with the Latin American countries that did not recognize Mr. Guaidó as acting president.

Among the European participants at the meeting, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain and Sweden supported Guaidó, but not Italy.

Despite the dissimilar positions, they will seek "agree on working methods" that allow the group to move towards a solution, according to a source from one of the participating governments.

Before going to Uruguay, Spanish Foreign Minister Josep Borrell wrote on Twitter: "Coordination between the EU and the Latin American countries is essential to strengthen the response to the serious crisis in Venezuela."

Uruguay, Mexico and the Caribbean Community (Caricom) countries have announced that they will put on the table of the meeting a Dialogue mechanism without preconditions.

Proposal, called "Montevideo Mechanism", it does not include among its four axes the celebration of an early presidential election, as requested by the Venezuelan opposition and many countries who expressed their support for Guaidó, recognized as president in charge of some 40 countries.

Mexico and Uruguay hope that the Montevideo meeting will result in a consensus document that will be sent to the United Nations. (UN), which has decided to stay out of any group defending initiatives on Venezuela, in order to "give credibility" to its "offer of good offices to the parties".

As, demonstrations have been called for and against Maduro for this Thursday in Montevideo by Venezuelans in Uruguay and social organizations.

Thursday's meeting will last about three hours. after which a press conference of Mogherini and Vázquez will take place.

(With information from AFP and EFE)