Venezuela/Opposition Talks Going Nowhere

by Stephen Lendman (stephenlendman.org - Home - Stephen Lendman)

Like ruling authorities in Russia, China, Syria, and North Korea in dealings with the US, Venezuelan President Maduro seeks resolution to months of US-orchestrated hostility toward country's sovereign rights through good faith negotiations with opposition elements — controlled by their hardline Trump regime handlers.

Talks with Washington or its proxies don't work. Russia experienced failure time and again in dealings with the US.

So did Syria from multiple failed rounds of peace talks — its interests represented by Russia and Iran.

China knows the futility of dealing with US hardliners from 11 months of failed trade talks with DJT representatives since last year.

So does North Korea from decades of US hostility toward its sovereign rights, most recently from two Kim Jong-un/Trump summits accomplishing nothing.

Palestinians know it as well in dealings with US and Israeli officials, a half century of no-peace/peace talks failure every time initiated, their fundamental rights ignored.

The US most often uses sticks, not carrots, in dealings with other nations, making unacceptable demands in return for empty promises — why diplomatic outreach to US regimes nearly always accomplish nothing. 

Rare exceptions prove the rule — none ever in dealings with North Korea, the Kremlin since Soviet Russia's 1991 dissolution, dealings with China on trade and other issues, Syria over failed conflict resolution efforts since 2012, or with Venezuela since establishment of the Bolivarian Republic in February 1999.

Trump regime and congressional hardliners want Maduro toppled, Venezuela's social democracy eliminated, wanting US control gained over its vast oil reserves, the world's largest.

In a Wall Street Journal op-ed last week, neocon hardliner Senator Lindsey Graham repeated a litany of bald-faced Big Lies about the country, including falsely claiming its ruling authorities threaten US national security and interests.

Ignoring the rule of law, he called for military intervention to topple Maduro, pretending imposter Guaido is Venezuelan's interim president.

His extremism against the Bolivarian Republic and other sovereign independent governments is matched by most congressional members from both right wings of the US war party — pretending they support democratic governance, a notion they abhor at home and abroad.

Maduro earlier said he's "ready to sit down at the negotiating table with the opposition so that we can speak for the good of Venezuela."

In mid-May, Bolivarian Republic representatives met with opposition elements in Norway, seeking resolution of differences through compromise.

More talks will be held this week, Norway's Foreign Ministry saying "representatives of the main political actors in Venezuela have decided to return to Oslo (in late May) to continue a process facilitated by Norway," adding:

"We reiterate our commitment to continue supporting the search for an agreed-upon solution between the parties in Venezuela."

Norway is one of three-fourths of world community nations refusing to recognize imposter Guaido as Venezuela's interim president.

Maduro thanked its government, tweeting: "I thank the Government of Norway for its efforts to advance the dialogues for peace and stability in Venezuela." 

"Our delegation is leaving for Oslo with a willingness to work on the agreed comprehensive agenda and to advance the construction of good agreements."

Days earlier he said he'll "never give up" on defending Bolivarian Republic sovereign interests, while expressing willingness to engage in "dialogue with the Venezuelan opposition and to map out a peaceful agenda for the country" — knowing the inurmountable obstacles his government faces because of US rage for regime change.

Remarks and actions by Guaido are scripted by his Trump regime handlers, on Saturday tweeting: "…Our route is very clear: an end of usurpation (sic), (creation of an) interim government and free elections (sic)."

Separately, he expressed opposition to what he called "false dialogue," demanding Maduro step down.

Opposition representatives in Oslo are directed by Trump regime hardliners to serve their interests.

They demand Maduro agree to let Guaido replace him as Venezuelan president — assuring failure, not resolution of differences, no matter how many rounds of talks are held.

In May 2018, Maduro was democratically reelected Venezuela's president, the process declared scrupulously open, free, and fair by independent monitors.

No rerun will be held because US and Venezuelan hardliners rejected the outcome, the same true of all elections won by Bolivarian Republic officials.

US objectives for Venezuela are clear and unequivocal, stated by Trump regime hardliners time and again, repeated by State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus roaring:

The only things worth discussing in Oslo are "the conditions of (Maduro's) departure" — assuring talks will go nowhere, a failed initiative before begun.

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