Venezuela’s Maduro open to EU initiative

CARACAS: Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro slammed the European Union (Eu)-backed International Contact Group on Venezuela, but said he would be prepared to meet its representatives, while self-proclaimed interim head of state Juan Guaido said his supporters were ready to create a humanitarian corridor if the incumbent blocks international aid.

“I’m ready and willing to receive any envoy from the contact group,” Maduro told a press conference on Friday at the presidential palace, though he rejected the “partisan, ideological” lens through which its members view the oilrich nation, reports Efe news.

The contact group, which seeks a solution to Venezuela’s political and economic crisis through dialogue and new presidential elections, includes Germany, the UK, Spain and France, and a handful of Latin American countries such as Uruguay, Ecuador and Costa Rica.

Mexico participated at the group’s inaugural meeting on Thursday in Montevideo, but did not sign a statement calling for new presidential elections in Venezuela.

Leftist-led Bolivia also refused to support snap presidential elections in Venezuela.

The US, Canada, numerous Latin American countries and the major European powers all consider Maduro’s May 2018 re-election victory to be tainted by fraud and have recognised Guaido, the speaker of the oppositioncontrolled National Assembly, as Interim President.

Guaido, speaking on Friday at the Central University of Venezuela in Caracas, said that if Maduro continues to prevent the entry of a shipment of humanitarian aid from the neighbouring Colombia, the opposition would mobilise to create a corridor so the assistance could reach Venezuelans in need.