Venezuela: Maduro reiterates call for dialogue with opposition

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has reiterated his call for dialogue with opposition figure Juan Guaido to end the political stalemate.

Speaking to a gathering of top military officials at a military parade in the capital Caracas, Maduro renewed his support for a negotiation process mediated by Norway between his government and Guaido, who is the leader of the opposition-controlled National Assembly.

“There is room for all of us within Venezuela,” Maduro said in his speech in Caracas. “We must all give up something in order to reach an agreement…We look to the heavens, asking for peace.”

Both Maduro and Guaido have sent representatives to a round of talks in Norway, which started mediating between the two sides, in May. But the negotiations have failed to resolve differences.

The Venezuelan president also hailed the Friday parade, which marked the 208th year of Venezuela’s independence from Spain, as "a demonstration of excellent cohesion, discipline, union, and versatility."

All branches of the military, police and other security agencies, as well as civic groups associated with the Venezuelan government attended the Maduro's military march.

SS