Caracas, Oct 30 (EFE).- The Italian prelate Claudio Maria Celli, Vatican representative to mediate the dialogue between the government and opposition in Venezuela, on Sunday called on both parts to take the dialogue seriously.
Celli said although he understood that the government and opposition do not share the same views but hopes the dialogue positions can be achieved through this process.
“The good intentions of both parties need to be highlighted; the country is waiting for genuine signs so they know that the dialogue is a reality and is something that is taken very seriously,” stressed the representative.
He also said that Pope Francis is “deeply concerned” about the ongoing tension in the country.
President Nicolas Maduro, for his part, confirmed he is committed to the dialogue to try to ease the country’s crisis.
“I want to give thanks to the representative of Pope Francis, as I did a few days ago in Rome, and would like to express my absolute commitment, as president of the country and leader of the Bolivarian and Revolutionary Movement, to this process of dialogue,” Maduro said.
Maduro, as the main promoter of the talks, said the start of these talks with the Democratic Unity Roundtable (MUD) coalition “is an opportunity to strip down hatred and intolerance.”
He also said he took part in the dialogue “to listen and hopefully to be heard” in order to “find consensus in the interests of the majority.”
The dialogue between the government and opposition alliance began Sunday without the Popular Will (Voluntad Popular) party of imprisoned opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez.
A lack of agreement with Lopez and his party is preventing the MUD from forming a united front in the talks, opposition officials told EFE.
The main opposition alliance parties have serious differences regarding the terms under which they would agree to meet with the government.