Government says farewell to Gaviria and assures Group of Friends the referendum is on

<a href=www.vheadline.com>Venezuela's Electronic News Posted: Friday, May 09, 2003 By: Patrick J. O'Donoghue

Speaking after meeting Organization of American States (OAS) general secretary Cesar Gaviria and members of the six-nation Group of Friends,  Executive Vice President, Jose Vicente rangel has confirmed that the recall referendum will be held and that the government is open to signing an agreement with the opposition ... "Dialog is a constitutional right and we are fierce defenders of the Constitution." 

Interpreting a bit of recent history, Rangel says rumors that the government was against an agreement were false ... "negotiators did not approve an agreement ... what was agreed was to pass the concluding document to colleagues for discussion." 

OAS general secretary Cesar Gaviria thanked the government in the name of the deputy foreign ministers (Group of Friends) for the clarity of its message and the assurance that the recall referendum would be held, adding that the Group of Friends is convinced of the government's willingness to dialogue. 

Venezuelan Education, Culture & Sports Minister Aristobulo Isturiz told the visitors that it was time for the National Assembly to resume its functions ... "what we want is a return to normality and a return to political normality."

This is the fourth time the Group of Friends has convened since it was founded in January 15 in Quito, Ecuador at the initiative of Brazil ... this is the second time it has convened in Caracas. 

Analysts comment that the main aim of the Group of Friends to ensure elections and to get Venezuelans talking to each other again through the normal democratic channels.

One commentator says Gaviria will be only too pleased to close shop and return to his pressing duties at the OAS ... he's been in Venezuela for the best part of six months attempting to restore democratic coexistence to a highly polarized country.