National Assembly deputy Stalin Gonzalez spoke today about the meeting in which he participated in Norway earlier this week with representatives from the Maduro government, calling the initiative “exploratory” in nature.
Reuters reported two days ago that an opposition delegating had traveled to Oslo, Norway to meet with representatives from the Maduro regime for talks.
Gonzalez said that the opposition was invited to attend the meeting at the request of the government of Norway, which is brokering the talks. He also said that “nothing is concrete” at the moment, and that the meeting was simply “another initiative” with the goal of bringing about an end to the Venezuelan crisis.
Earlier today, the Norwegian government confirmed that the talks had taken place in an official statement, which reads:
Norway announces that it has had preliminary contacts with representatives of the main political actors of Venezuela, as part of an exploratory phase, with the aim of contributing to finding a solution to the situation in the country.
Norway commends the parties for their efforts. We reiterate our willingness to continue supporting the search for a peaceful solution for the country.
Gonzalez clarified that at no time were the opposition representatives and those from the Maduro government together in the same room:
There was no direct contact. All of the meetings were pendulum, through [the government of] Norway. There were no meetings [where we were all] in the same place, and in the same room.
Fuel Shortage Causes Long Lines at Pumps
A widespread fuel shortage caused long lines at gas stations all around the country today, as drivers flocked to the reduced number of stations that had any gasoline left.
Below, video of a line at a gas station in Caracas this morning:
A line in Lecheria, Anzoategui state:
A similar scene in Barquisimeto, Lara state:
NGO: Authorities Killed 287 Minors in 2018
The Observatorio Venezolano de Violencia (Venezuela Violence Watch, OVV) held a press conference today in which it provided an update on homicide statistics that it had collected for 2018.
The director of the OVV, Roberto Briceño-León, said during the press conference that 1,484 minors were the victims of homicide last year.
Out of that figure, 287 minors were killed by the authorities: 267 teenagers and 20 children. Briceño-León explained that the homicides took place during “alleged confrontations with the police”.
Simonovis Allegedly in Germany
One day after he was unexpectedly released from house arrest, Ivan Simonovis is reportedly taking refuge in Germany with his wife, El Nacional reports.
Until yesterday, Simonovis was the longest-serving political prisoner in regime custody, having been detained in 2004 over his alleged role in the events of April 11, 2002.
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