Federica Mogherini Co-chairs Second Contact Group Meeting on Venezuela in Quito

The High Representative of the European Union (EU) for Foreign Policy, Federica Mogherini, co-chair in Quito Second Ministerial Meeting of the International Contact Group for Venezueladriven by Europe and supported by several countries in the region.

"I praise the efforts of the region's hostamong them, from Ecuador, which They have received millions of Venezuelan refugees and migrants. Our solidarity is total", he said at the opening of the meeting.

"We work well together and we will continue our joint efforts, in order to help the Venezuelan people to find a peaceful and democratic solution, "he continued.

He added: "The useful contribution of the contact group is widely recognized., being the only international initiative to have access to all parties in Venezuela ".

For his part, the host Chancellor, the Ecuadorian President José Valencia, said: "We hope that this meeting will be beneficial and that the results will be materialized in the most appropriate way and with the contribution of all."

"It is a demonstration of international solidarity, of regional solidarity. I appreciate your presence here, "he added.

This group aims to contribute to "urgent delivery" badistance in the country According to international humanitarian principles, the European Commission (EC) recalled in a statement published in the previous one.

The group also seeks to help create the conditions for a peaceful political process ",which allows Venezuelans to determine their own future through free, transparent and credible elections, in accordance with the country's Constitution", a point.

The meeting in Quito is the Second meeting at ministerial level of the countries that make up this group after the one held in Montevideo on 7 February.

Since then, the group has sent technical missions to Caracas to contact the opposing parties in the political crisis Venezuela is going through and with civil society.

In the international contact group, in addition to the EU, represented by its High Representative, eight EU countries (France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom), as well as Bolivia, Costa Rica and Ecuador and Uruguay.

On the 18th day, at the conclusion of an EU Council of Foreign Ministers, Mogherini felt that this group "is the only existing political initiative to have access to all parties in Venezuela, the region and the international community"

As stated then, the European countries "they rented the workcontact group and even encouraged it to move forward, perhaps by paving the way for formal mediation or facilitation, which could occur as it progresses. Progress of the group's work.