Framework for a democratic transition. – Summaries of news and views OnVenezuela

Despite contradictions, State Department’s Venezuela plan is a step in the right direction

OnVenezuela — Wed, 15 Apr 2020 11:36:30 +0000

While people in the United States and around the world focus sharply on confronting the coronavirus pandemic, Venezuela’s disastrous decline continues to intensify. The recent major drop in oil prices and the growing health crisis further exacerbate the country’s economic collapse, institutional fragmentation, decaying infrastructure and social conflict. By David Smilde and Abraham Lowenthal, Full text -> Washington Post

Lima Group extols U.S plan to lift Venezuela sanctions in exchange for power-sharing deal

See Post — Fri, 03 Apr 2020 13:20:21 +0000

The Lima Group regional bloc said on Thursday it “appreciated” a new U.S. plan to begin lifting sanctions on Venezuela if the opposition and members of President Nicolas Maduro’s party form an interim government without him. By Marco Aquino. Full text-> National Post

Can justice for Maduro bring peace to Venezuela?

See Post — Fri, 03 Apr 2020 12:54:50 +0000

So the indictment of Maduro and other top officials raises important strategic questions. Most fundamentally, how does it advance the Trump administration’s stated objective of a peaceful, democratic transition in Venezuela, which Pompeo’s framework aims to achieve?By Michael Camilleri. Full text -> Los Angeles Times

Telephonic Press Briefing with Elliott Abrams, U.S. Special Representative for Venezuela

See Post — Fri, 03 Apr 2020 12:25:36 +0000

Greetings to everyone from the U.S. Department of State’s Media Hub of the Americas in Miami, Florida. I would like to welcome our participants who have dialed in from the United States and across the region, and thank you for your patience. We wanted to give a few extra minutes for journalists to join this call today. Full text -> US Department of State