Friends of Venezuela begin push for solution to conflict

www.vheadline.com Posted: Sunday, February 02, 2003 - 12:30:57 AM By: Robert Rudnicki

Deputy Foreign Ministers from Brazil, Chile, Mexico, Portugal, Spain and the United States have begun their push for a resolution to Venezuela's political conflict after holding lengthy talks with President Hugo Chavez Frias and opposition leaders. 

The group made it clear that they see early elections as the only way to end the deadlock, "we reaffirm the need for a solution agreed by both sides that is constitutional, democratic, peaceful and electoral ... we ask both sides to make every effort to seek a negotiated solution," the group's statement read. 

President Chavez Frias made clear to the high level delegation that he and his government are all democratically elected and that he represents a legitimate government.

However, it seems that the group will encourage the President to agree to one of the two proposals put forward by Former US President Jimmy Carter, either a constitutional amendment that would cut the President's term from six to four years, allowing for a early vote on his rule, or holding a revocatory referendum in August this year, an option that is already permitted by the current Constitution.