Major powers discuss Venezuelan crisis

US sanctions 'suffocating' ordinary people in South American country

BOGOTA, Colombia - Sweden is hosting talks between major global powers with stakes in dealing with Venezuela's political turmoil, the latest effort to jumpstart flagging attempts to find a peaceful solution to the country's crisis.

A European diplomat said on Thursday that representatives of Russia, the United Nations, the Vatican, Cuba and the European Union were attending the Stockholm meeting. A US official with knowledge of the discussions said the United States was invited but had decided against participating.

"The talks in Stockholm are for backing the Norway dialogue," the European diplomat said, referring to talks in Oslo between Venezuela's government and opposition that have stalled in recent days. "All parties feel the need to keep as low key as possible because the mediation is going through a delicate phase."

The Stockholm meeting comes as a growing chorus of international actors press for a mediated solution to end Venezuela's power struggle. The US has been pursuing a policy of economic sanctions and diplomatic isolation against the Venezuelan government in support of the nation's opposition leader Juan Guaido. It recognized Guaido as the nation's "interim president" on Jan 23, days after President Nicolas Maduro was inaugurated for a second term.

However, another European diplomat with knowledge of the talks downplayed any hopes for an immediate breakthrough. He described the one-off meeting as more of an icebreaking session aimed at sitting around the same table a number of external actors who can contribute to reconciliation efforts in Venezuela.

To ease tensions, Guaido and Maduro were intentionally marginalized from the meeting, said the diplomat, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the talks were supposed to be private.

A Venezuelan government source with knowledge of the talks characterized them as a waste of time, saying only low-level diplomats attended.

A spokeswoman for the Russian Foreign Ministry confirmed the talks and said that Russia was being represented by Alexander Shchetinin, head of the ministry's South America department.

Enrique Iglesias, a seasoned Uruguayan diplomat recently appointed as the European Union's special envoy for Venezuela, was also participating in the meeting, according to one of the diplomats, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss the issue.

Norway has sponsored two rounds of exploratory talks in recent weeks aimed at bringing the two sides together. Very little has emerged about the talks. But under pressure from hardliners inside the opposition coalition Guaido said last week that he would not participate in any more talks with government unless it yields to their demand for presidential elections.

Meanwhile, due to US sanctions, Venezuelans are suffering from a lack of basic necessities such as food and medicines as well as failing public services, including water, electricity and transportation.

The United Nations says a quarter of Venezuela's 30-million population is in need of humanitarian aid.

Venezuelan shopkeeper Manuel Saavedra said new US sanctions are severely affecting not only him, but also lots of other people.

A video game store owner in Caracas, Saavedra has been forced to raise prices as products became harder to import from May 15, when the US Transportation Department suspended passenger and cargo services between the US and Venezuela.

"They're suffocating us, ordinary citizens," he said.

Air courier companies increased their charges from $3.5 to $4.5 per pound following the latest US sanctions while maritime shipments went from $8 to $10 per cubic meter, said Saavedra.

Packages can no longer be sent directly from the US and must now first pass through Panama or the Dominican Republic in order to circumvent the sanctions.

"That pushes up the costs and means that you sell less," Saavedra said.

Reuters - AFP - Xinhua

(China Daily 06/15/2019 page8)