Colombian President Gustavo Petro assured, this Monday, April 17, that he will talk this week with his US counterpart Joe Biden about a possible lifting of sanctions on Venezuela, an issue that will be the central axis of the summit called by his government for next week in Bogotá.
(See: Colombia and the US: a relationship of convenience and disagreements).
“More democracy, zero sanctions, is the objective of the conference in Bogotá“, Petro advanced in statements at the UN headquarters in New York, the first stop on his visit to the United States and which on Thursday will take him to meet with Biden.
Asked by journalists if he will board with him the issue of sanctions against Venezuela, Peter said that “it is a topic to discuss“.
In addition to the United States, the European Union and countries like Canada have imposed punishments in recent years. against Venezuela in response to the actions of the government of Nicolás Maduro.
(See: Petro is organizing a summit to fix relations with Venezuela).
In order to unblock the negotiation process between the Government and the Venezuelan opposition, Colombia convened an international meeting on April 25 in which representatives of the United States, European countries and several Latin American states are expected to participate.
Petro insisted that this appointment will be sought, mainly, “that there are no sanctions and that there is much more democracy“.
(See: Trade between Colombia and Venezuela totals US$70.5 million in 6 months).
“I think, without meddling in the internal Venezuelan political discussion, that the path of dialogue, the path of democracy (…) is the appropriate path“said the Colombian president.
“In other words, let it be what the Venezuelan people, free, without pressure, decide on their immediate future.“, he added.
Gustavo Petro at the UN.
Last week, Colombian Foreign Minister Álvaro Leyva, announced that the international conference in Bogotá will have some 15 countries that will seek to help reactivate the dialogue between the Maduro government and the opposition.
(See: Who is the comedian who wants to reach the Presidency of Venezuela).
The chancellor made it clear that, despite speculation, it is not expected that the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken but other US representatives did.
The Venezuelan parties will not participate in the conference itself, Leyva explained, but it is expected that they will follow it closely and that there may be an invitation for them to follow.
EFE
