Talks between the Venezuelan Government and the opposition
by Roberto Morejon
In Venezuela, the dialogue between the government and a sector of the opposition was resumed, which allowed the signing of an agreement on the release of frozen funds, before which the United States authorized the oil company Chevron to resume operations in the South American country.
After 13 months since the suspension of previous negotiations, the Bolivarian government and a branch of its antagonists met again in Mexico and reached an agreement to implement humanitarian expenditures.
The adversaries of the Bolivarian revolution agreed to release close to three thousand of the more than 20 billion dollars tied up in foreign banks.
For this reason, the government headed by President Nicolás Maduro has been unable to make strategic investments beneficial to the population.
It is to be hoped that through dialogue in Mexico, progress could be made in the same direction and in others of positive impact for Venezuelans, who suffer shortages and high prices, even though the economy has managed to slow down its decline.
The White House's authorization to Chevron to resume oil extraction in Venezuela should contribute to this healthy trend, albeit in a limited way.
It is against the fact that the second largest oil company in the country of the North was extended the permit for only 6 months, its works must be restricted and it was forbidden to deliver profits to the state-owned PDVSA, Petroleos de Venezuela (Petroleos de Venezuela).
However, the agreements signed in the last days and the green light given by Washington to certain movements to Chevron, go in the right direction.
It should be noted that future agreements with Chevron would be signed under the terms established in the Venezuelan Constitution and other Venezuelan laws and not at the discretion of the antagonists.
But "it is necessary to go further", Maduro reasonably affirmed, because as he pointed out, the total lifting of the coercive measures on the oil industry, among other branches, is necessary.
The truth is that in addition to causing enormous hardships to Venezuela, the United States put a barrier to work in the oil market, which is vital for the world.
The consequences can be seen today, since in the midst of great international tensions, important pressures gravitate on the market, to which Venezuela cannot tax crude oil as its potentialities guarantee.