Santo Domingo, September 14 (Telesur/RHC) – The Venezuelan government continues to hold what it has described as "definitive" talks with the opposition after the beginning a new dialogue in the Dominican Republic.

“We are in the process of transforming an agenda that will lead to a definitive negotiation of the crisis,” said the president of the Dominican Republic Danilo Medina.

Jorge Rodriguez, mayor of Caracas’ Libertador municipality and lead negotiator, said the Venezuelan government was optimistic about the outcome of the talks. “We are close to reaching an agreement with the opposition on decisive points, we are in a prime moment of dialogue,” he said.

The meetings between both delegations are held at the Foreign Ministry headquarters in Santo Domingo.

The opposition is represented by Timoteo Zambrano, Luis Florido, Manuel Rosales, Vicente Diaz, Eudoro Gonzalez, and president of the National Assembly, Julio Borges.

The Venezuelan government is represented by Mayor Jorge Rodriguez, the president of the National Constituent Assembly, Delcy Rodriguez, and by Ambassador Roy Chaderton Matos.

National Constituent Assembly President Delcy Rodriguez said she expected the talks to promote a peaceful coexistence, adding that she had traveled to Santo Domingo to find a solution to the situation in her country. “We have come here with a flag of peace,” she said.

As early as 2016, the government of President Nicolas Maduro had called for a dialogue with the opposition, which has abandoned the talks on several occasions.