Venezuela rejects Chilean offer to broker talks with opposition

CARACAS – The Venezuelan Government on Wednesday, rejected an offer from Chile to help resume talks between the ruling socialist party and the conservative opposition, whose ties were battered by
[pro_ad_display_adzone id=”8″]
2014 protests.
Venezuela’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement that the offer by Chilean Foreign Minister, [pro_ad_display_adzone id=”10″]Heraldo Munoz was rejected as intervention in Venezuela’s domestic affairs.
The ministry called on Munoz to refrain from offering his opinions on Venezuela’s internal affairs and [pro_ad_display_adzone id=”10″]asked for an official explanation of the matter via Chile’s embassy in Caracas.
On Monday, Munoz said Chile was very interested in reactivating political dialogue between Venezuela’s two camps.
Following violent anti-government protests at the beginning of 2014, Venezuelan President, Nicolas [pro_ad_display_adzone id=”10″]Maduro invited the opposition to various rounds of talks in April to help diffuse social tensions.
Right-wing leaders later suspended the talks, blaming the government for a lack of commitment. The ranks of the opposition were also splintered over whether to negotiate with the authorities.
According to the Venezuelan government, the three-month protests left 43 people dead and over 800 others injured, and cost over 10 billion dollars in economic losses. (Xinhua/NAN)