Peace negotiations to continue without OAS chief Cesar Gaviria

www.vheadline.com Posted: Tuesday, March 04, 2003 By: Robert Rudnicki

Talks between government and opposition negotiators are scheduled to continue this week despite the unavailability of Organization of American States (OAS) secretary general Cesar Gaviria, however the earliest possible session is likely to be this Wednesday.

Gaviria has prior engagements in Bolivia this week and is not expected to return to Venezuela until next week.

Coordinadora Democratica negotiators are hoping that the discussions will continue to concentrate on an electoral solution to the current crisis, as laid out by former US President Jimmy Carter.

Talks have been very stop and start over recent weeks, with major disagreement over the arrest of Venezuelan Federation of Chambers of Commerce & Industry (Fedecamaras) president Carlos Fernandez and the detention orders issued for several other strike leaders.