The intention of the US government to negotiate the lifting of sanctionsyes to Venezuela, which has been tied to the holding of free elections in the country in 2024, would have an expiration time, according to the White House announced this Thursday, July 20
The intention of the US government to negotiate the lifting of sanctions on Venezuela, which has been tied to the holding of free elections in the country in 2024, would have an expiration time, according to the White House announced this Thursday, July 20.
John Gonzalez, special assistant to the president Joe Biden, told the voice of america that, although the policy towards Venezuela “remains the same”, there is no “indefinite window” for negotiation.
“Here what we are trying to create are incentives for them to take a different route. But the window is one that will close eventually,” said the director of hemispheric affairs for the United States.
González pointed out that, after the disqualification of María Corina Machado, “electoral experts would see that at a certain point it will be very difficult to have a free and fair election.”
Meanwhile, according to the US official, the administration continues to “support any conversation that exists between the unitary platform and the de facto government” to ensure a return to the dialogue table in Mexico City. The last time both delegations met in the Mexican capital was at the end of November of last year.
Machado, a candidate for the opposition primaries, was disqualified by the Comptroller General’s Office from running for popularly elected positions for 15 years. He argued she is based on the support of the opponent of US sanctions.
Given the possibility that the US imposes more sanctions on Venezuela, González assured that the package of measures against Venezuela is “one of the most robust in the world.” He believes that adding others “is not going to change the status quo.”
The interest of the Biden Administration, according to the official, is to create the conditions for a “free and fair electoral environment” in Venezuela, which would even benefit countries like Colombia, “which have been impacted by the millions of Venezuelans who have fled the country.”
González said that it would be “unfortunate” if negotiations with Venezuela were not achieved “because last year around a million Venezuelans left that country due to political, economic and security situations.”
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