OAS General Secretary Cesar Gaviria says too early to announce signing of agreement

<a href=www.vheadline.com>Venezuela's Electronic News Posted: Thursday, May 22, 2003 By: Patrick J. O'Donoghue

Organization of American States (OAS)  general secretary, Cesar Gaviria says he has come to the conclusion that it's a little too early to announce the signing of an agreement between the government and the opposition. 

Making the remark after meeting Venezuelan Executive Vice President Jose Vicente Rangel, Gaviria preferred to keep a low-key approach to solving the problem of the recall referendum.

"We are in the process of discussion with the Vice President and Education Minister Aristobulo Isturiz representing the government in the negotiations trying to agree to a commitment text that would allow us to leave behind some topics." 

Vice President Rangel has reaffirmed that the government has the" best will in the world" to sign an agreement after which negotiations should be transferred to the National Assembly. "Once an agreement has been signed, we believe it's time to end negotiations and transfer all matters concerning dialog to the National Assembly." 

Rangel has let it be known that the text has been reformulated and that the government will only accept the figure of facilitator between the two sides. 

Both Rangel and Gaviria add that they hope the two sides will meet sometime today.