Venezuelan government, opposition continue 2nd round of US-backed dialogue

Venezuela's government and opposition continued a second round of US-backed dialogue Friday, with political guarantees, freedom of expression, political prisoners, and judicial reform among the issues expected to be discussed.

“We are here with great responsibility to give the Venezuelan people a consolidation of a path toward democracy,” opposition negotiator Dinorah Figuera said ahead of the talks.

The meeting is being held at the Melia Caracas hotel, where the delegations began the second round Thursday. No statements to the media were scheduled during the talks.

The sides have not disclosed details of the discussions, but the opposition said the second phase would address civil and political guarantees and freedom of expression.

The first round ended with two agreements, including one focused on the renewal of Venezuela's Supreme Court.

The parties also agreed to seek the recovery of Venezuelan assets held at the Bank of England to assist victims of the earthquakes that struck the country in June.

Venezuela and the opposition are now close to an agreement on the transfer of about $4 billion in gold reserves held at the Bank of England to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, according to reports.

Figuera said earlier this week that the opposition delegation would continue discussions on the reinstitutionalization of the Supreme Court, including procedures for nominating new judges.

She also said the talks would address conditions for a future electoral process, while calling for the release of political prisoners.

The dialogue resumed after Venezuelan authorities announced the lifting of restrictions on several news websites, including local and international media outlets that had been blocked for years.

The opposition delegation does not include prominent opposition leaders Maria Corina Machado and Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia.

The talks are being held under interim President Delcy Rodriguez following the capture of former President Nicolas Maduro in a US operation on Jan. 3.