Norway has confirmed negotiations to get out of the crisis in Venezuela

Norway has ratified its willingness to continue to support a peaceful solution to the crisis in Venezuela, after this week holding talks with government and opposition representatives in an "exploratory phase," the ministry said. Foreign Affairs in Oslo.

"Norway indicated that it had had preliminary contacts with representatives of Venezuela's main political actors, in an exploratory phase, with the aim of supporting the search for a solution to the country's situation", said the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. declaration.

As mediator, "Norway congratulates the parties for their efforts and we reiterate our willingness to continue to support the search for a peaceful solution for the country," he said.

In Venezuela, the Venezuelan opposition leader, Juan Guaidó, revealed contacts with Norway on Thursday, but nuanced the initiative by saying that there had been no negotiation. with the government Nicolás Maduro.

"There is no negotiation of any kind whatsoever" with Maduro, he confirmed in a political act in Caracas Guaidó, to which fifty countries have recognized the interim presidency. The only purpose of a direct meeting between the parties is to "keep in mind Maduro's program of termination of power" with a view to establishing a "transitional government" calling for "elections". Free, "Rejecting any" false trading "that would oxygenate the Maduro government. Maduro, without confirming the meetings, had indicated the day before that Jorge Rodríguez, his Minister of Communication and a part of his close entourage, was "in a very important mission for peace". of the country in Europe ".

Guaidó revealed Thursday contacts with Norway, but eased expectations stating that there was no negotiation with the regime for the moment.

Yesterday, however, he thanked Norway's support for a "dialogue" with the opposition. "President Nicolás Maduro and the Bolivarian Revolution express their gratitude to Norway and its support for the dialogue for peace and sovereignty," Venezuelan Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza told reporters on Twitter.

According to the Norwegian public broadcaster NRK, the secret talks in Oslo lasted "several days" and both delegations returned to Caracas on Thursday.

The Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has stated that it does not wish to comment further on the matter.

According to several media reports, the Maduro government, Minister Jorge Rodriguez and the governor of the state Miranda, Hector Rodriguez, took part in these discussions.

While the opposition was represented by former MP Gerardo Blyde, former Minister Fernando Martínez Mottola and the Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly, Stalin González.