'Friends of Venezuela' to lend weight to OAS efforts

www.vheadline.com Posted: Wednesday, January 29, 2003 - 2:46:04 AM By: Robert Rudnicki

A high-level delegation of representatives from the "Friends of Venezuela" group as due to arrive in Caracas tomorrow, Thursday, to lend their weight to Organization of American States (OAS) secretary general Cesar Gaviria's efforts to bring the ongoing political stalemate to a peaceful and democratic solution. 

The group, composed of Brazil, Chile, Mexico, Portugal, Spain and the United States, held its first meeting last week in Washington, during which Foreign Ministers from the six nations discussed possible ways to end the crisis, including the two proposals put forward by former US President Jimmy Carter. 

Calls by President Hugo Chavez Frias and members of his government that other nations such as Algeria, Cuba, China, France and Russia should be included in the group, have so far been met with refusals, but Cuban leader Fidel Castro said he would consider joining if he were asked. 

Ahead of the group's arrival, Coordinadora Democratica leaders are considering lifting certain areas of the work stoppage, in what they claim to be a goodwill gesture.