Secretary-General Welcomes Dialogue between Venezuela’s Government,

Opposition, Urging Common Ground to Overcome Challenges

 

The following statement was issued today by the Spokesman for UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon:

The Secretary-General welcomes that a dialogue has begun in Venezuela bringing together the Government and members of the political opposition.  He salutes in particular the efforts of the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR), at the invitation of President Maduro, to support this process.  He congratulates both the Government and opposition for their public commitment to the dialogue, which is being accompanied by a representative of the Holy See and by the Foreign Ministers of Brazil, Colombia and Ecuador, representing UNASUR, as witnesses.

The Secretary-General expresses his best wishes for the success of the dialogue and joins His Holiness, Pope Francis, in his call to all actors to engage in a dialogue aimed at finding common ground to overcome the current challenges faced by Venezuela.

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For information media • not an official record