Caracas, February 19 (RHC)-- Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro says that the Bolivarian state is willing to establish a “frank and open dialogue,” with the political opposition.  Maduro said: "I believe in frank and open dialogue as the only way for the tranquility and prosperity of the Homeland.  Over the past six years, I have made more than 400 calls and I will always do it for the love of Venezuela." 

In a Twitter post, the president offered his solidarity and support to the Montevideo Mechanism -- an international convocation of representatives from Mexico, Uruguay, Bolivia and the Community of Caribbean States (CARICOM) -- composed for the purpose of fostering a domestic diplomatic solution to Venezuela’s current political dilemma.

The Venezuelan president emphasized that the government’s priority is the stabilization of the economy, peace, sovereignty and political stability above anything else.  Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza also expressed the government's interest in resolving these “deep political differences," condemning U.S. President Donald Trump’s attempts to forcefully interfere in Venezuela’s political sphere.

"There have been two meetings where we have listened, there have been moments of tension, there are profound differences but at the same time there are shared concerns and hopefully we can build on this dialogue," Arreaza said during an interview with TeleSUR.

Maduro has repeatedly called for the restoration of talks between his government and the opposition in order to maintain peace and avoid a U.S.-backed coup, or even military intervention by the United States in favor of removing him and placing an unelected right-wing government.

On January 23rd, an opposition lawmaker, Juan Guaido, violated the country’s constitution by attempting to launch a coup d'etat and declaring himself “interim” president.  Right-wing governments around the globe have defended the illegal claim, while the United States threatened to launch military intervention if Maduro refused to renounce his democratic and legitimate claim to the presidency.