Venezuela moves to improve ties with EU

CARACAS - Venezuelan Foreign Affairs Minister Jorge Arreaza met on Friday with European Union (EU) diplomats in a bid to improve strained ties with the bloc.

"To strengthen the good ties of friendship, cooperation and plurality with the people and governments, Minister Arreaza is holding a cordial meeting with the ambassadors of European Union countries in our country," the Foreign Affairs Ministry said via Twitter.

Later, the ministry released a statement saying the envoys and Arreaza discussed issues of general interest and ratified their governments' willingness to continue to strengthen cooperation.

In late November, the EU approved sanctions against Venezuela, banning military sales to the country on the grounds that weapons could be used for "internal repression."

In January, the EU approved a new series of sanctions against seven top officials, including National Constituent Assembly President Diosdado Cabello, Prosecutor General Tarek William Saab and Interior Minister Nestor Reverol.

After a failed assassination attempt against Maduro in early August, an EU representative issued statements that Caracas denounced as interventionist.