Rubio urges Oliver Blanco to continue releasing political prisoners

The North American Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, asked this Monday to the new Venezuelan foreign minister, Oliver Blancomaintain uninterruptedly the release of political prisoners who still remain in Venezuelan prisons. The demand occurred during the first official meeting between both diplomats in the US capital, after the recent appointment of the Venezuelan official by the interim president, Delcy Rodríguez.

During the meeting, in which both officials posed before the media without offering statements, the head of US diplomacy ratified the White House’s priorities for Venezuela.

“Secretary Rubio urged the continuation of the release of political prisoners who are still detained in Venezuela,” the State Department said. through a statement.

And he added: “Secretary Rubio reaffirmed President Donald Trump’s three-phase plan for Venezuela: stabilization, economic recovery and political reconciliation, and democratic transition. Both addressed progress in reconciliation talks led by Venezuela, including institutional reforms that lay the foundation for free, fair and credible elections.”

This strategic roadmap was presented by the US government after the military operation on January 3 that led to the capture of Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores.

Diplomacy and Bilateral Agenda | Washington D.C.

Marco Rubio demands that Foreign Minister Oliver Blanco maintain the release of political prisoners

First official meeting in the United States defines the three-phase roadmap and the renewal of the CNE

“Secretary Rubio urged that the release of political prisoners who are still detained in Venezuela continue.”

Department of State | official statement

Direct demand to maintain the uninterrupted release of the remaining political prisoners, complementing the amnesty promoted by the Delcy Rodríguez administration.

Reaffirmation of the three-phase plan structured by the White House: stabilization, economic recovery and political reconciliation along with the democratic transition.

Agreement to promote before the end of the year the renewal of the Supreme Court of Justice and the National Electoral Council as a prerequisite for the elections.

Turn in Washington’s bilateral agenda

1

Initial energy security
Opening of the Venezuelan oil sector to contain the global rise in crude oil generated by the war conflict with Iran.

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2

Intensification of political pressure
High-level meetings with Foreign Minister Oliver Blanco and the opposition (Dinorah Figuera) to coordinate dialogue and amnesty tables.

3

Call for free elections
Purification and restructuring of the TSJ and the CNE to establish the final schedule of the presidential elections.

Institutional background after the January 3 operation

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• Military operation: The roadmap promoted by the White House was activated after the events of January 3 that led to the capture of Nicolás Maduro.

• Political interlocutors: Washington maintains fluid channels both with the cabinet of interim president Delcy Rodríguez and with the parliamentary blocs of the democratic opposition.

Source: United States Department of State and special coverage by El Nacional

Turn in the bilateral agenda and institutional reforms

The meeting in Washington marks a new stage in the US strategy, which concentrated its first efforts on the opening of the Venezuelan oil sector to contain the global rise in crude oil derived from the war conflict with Iran. After guaranteeing the collaboration of the interim government on energy matters, the Trump administration has intensified political pressure on Caracas.

Washington’s agenda includes not only the total amnesty promoted by the Rodríguez administration – which has already allowed the release of hundreds of people – but also the consolidation of dialogue tables with a sector of the opposition. As part of these approaches, Rubio received Dinorah Figuera, head of the opposition bench in the negotiation process, at the State Department weeks ago.

Although both the ruling party and the opposition ratified their commitment to holding presidential elections in the country, the electoral calendar remains undefined. High-level diplomatic sources in the United States expect that the parties will concentrate their efforts on renewing the Supreme Court of Justice and the National Electoral Council before the end of the year, a prior and essential step to call the polls.