Venezuelan government, opposition groups hold talks

The government and four opposition groups of Venezuela on Monday held national conciliation talks and signed an accord.

This handout picture released by Venezuela's Foreign Ministry press office shows Venezuela's Vice-President Delcy Rodriguez (L) and Venezuelan opposition deputy Timoteo Zambrano (R) after signing an agreement for the government's return to Parliament, during a meeting at the Foreign Ministry in Caracas, Venezuela, on September 16, 2019. [Photo: Venezuela's Foreign Ministry/AFP]

The ruling socialist party and the opposition groups agreed to re-incorporate pro-government deputies into the National Assembly, Venezuelan Minister of Communication and Information Jorge Rodriguez said.

They also agreed to "create a new national electoral council and electoral guarantees to accompany the voting process," said Rodriguez, who read out the consensuses reached by both sides.

The judiciary, as agreed, will release opposition activists from jail if their cases allow it.

The two sides jointly demanded an "immediate lifting" of economic and financial sanctions imposed by the United States.

The accord recommends the implementation of a program, under supervision by the United Nations, to exchange Venezuelan oil for food, medicine and other basic items the South American country needs to import.

The solution to Venezuela's political conflict can only be found through dialogue, said the accord.

Venezuela's political and economic crisis escalated in January, after the U.S.-backed far right refused to recognize President Nicolas Maduro's re-election for a second term and opposition deputy Juan Guaido declared himself interim president.

Washington swiftly recognized Guaido, who did not participate in Monday's talks.