LondonCaracasLondon: Venezuelan Peace Conference installed successfully!!

This 26 February 2014, after weeks of violent protest from some factions of the Venezuelan opposition, President Nicolas Maduro installed the Peace Conference with all society representatives, with the exception of few opposition leaders. With a full house integrated of journalist, businessmen, politicians from opposition and official sectors, judicial authorities, union leaders, artists and religions leaders attended with one objective: to guarantee dialogue and peace.

President Maduro proposed three key basis to start the conference and guide its development, those are:

1. Respect to the National Constitution.

2. Stop the violence. Clear all focus of blockades and violence.

3. The defence of sovereignty. Stop all attempts of interventionism from foreign powers.

Peace is a national destiny.

Peace National Conference installation

The Government has repeatedly advocated national dialogue to resolve both the current violence and to address wider issues that some peaceful protesters are focused on such as crime and inflation. On 19 February President Maduro urged for more talks with student groups, stating he is open to “constructive dialogue to define key issues”. He also once again reiterated calls for peace and dialogue on 24 February at a meeting of the National Federal Council, attended by almost all governors, including opposition governors. President Maduro organised a 26 February national conference for peace and dialogue.

Additionally, President Maduro has established a movement for peace, led by artists, athletes and cultural figures, together with organized communities seeking to end not just the current chaotic situation, but also the high crime levels that have plagued the country over the past few years. The Government has also called on its supporters to demonstrate their support for peace, with a number of very large rallies being held.

In fact, since the election results in December, President Maduro has organised talks with the opposition to find ways of working together on pressing matters facing Venezuela. To this end he met with opposition governors and mayors at the Presidential Palace in late December. Another series of meetings in January led to a handshake with former Presidential candidate and leader of the opposition Henrique Capriles on 7 January. In fact it is widely believed by a range of commentators that the beginnings of this dialogue provoked the latest wave of violence by extremist elements of the opposition who want to prevent such talks being successful.