The US does not reply Maduro's proposal for dialogue; insists on mediation

The US Department of States Spokesperson Jen Psaki said in a briefing she did not believe that the US Government was considering naming a special envoy to start talks with Venezuela. The "Government and the opposition need to be in agreement" for the purpose of choosing a third party, the official stated

EL UNIVERSAL

Monday March 17, 2014  06:14 PM

The United States avoided answering questions about the offer made by Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro entailing a dialogue on Venezuelan demonstrations, yet the United States reaffirmed that the intervention of a third party is "essential" to ease tension between the Venezuelan Government and the opposition, EFE informed.

US Department of State Spokesperson Jen Psaki said in a briefing she did not believe that her government was considering naming a special envoy to start talks with the Venezuelan Executive Office and the Union of South American States (Unasur), as proposed by Maduro on Saturday.

"We believe a dialogue should be facilitated by a third party acceptable to all parties in Venezuela," said Psaki adding that the Venezuelan "Government and the opposition need to be in agreement" for the purpose of choosing a third party.

The US spokesperson insisted on saying that the United States focused on "continuing to call on the Venezuelan Government to take steps to promote freedom of speech and take steps to release those who are unjustly jailed."


She commented that "the Venezuelan Government should stop the violence against its citizens (...) lift restrictions on freedom of the press, and engage in an inclusive dialogue with Venezuelans across the political spectrum."

Large protests in Venezuela despite carnival

Slow forex adjustment lashes Venezuela's staple supply

The Ancillary Foreign Currency Administration System has allocated so far this year only 10.8% of the amount of foreign currency oriented to imports

MAYELA ARMAS H. |  EL UNIVERSAL

Tuesday March 18, 2014  10:00 AM

For one year, the Venezuelan Government has been adjusting its foreign exchange policy, but the slow reform has adversely affected staple supply.

On Sunday, the president of the Central Bank of Venezuela (BCV), Nelson Merentes, admitted that the country has been facing shortage in certain goods and warned that situation should not exceed three additional months. Moreover, the official stressed the need for both an effective and quick import and an improvement in production and distribution.

Based on the BCV's figures, shortage has remained above 20% since August, hitting a record high of 28% in January.

The jump in the shortage index is somewhat attributed to restrictions in the sale of foreign currency.

For instance, the Ancillary Foreign Currency Administration System has allocated this year only 10.8% of the amount of foreign currency oriented to imports (USD 6.4 billion). In 2013, Sicad's supply accounted for just 70% of that of 2012.

Venezuela: opposition protests continue on eve of anniversary of Hugo Chavez’ death | euronews, world news

Militarization in eastern Caracas fails to end protests

Chacao was seized by military officers on Monday at 3:00 a.m.

THÁBATA MOLINA |  EL UNIVERSAL

Tuesday March 18, 2014  10:23 AM

At 3:00 a.m. Monday, military officers took control of Chacao, eastern Caracas. Locals got frightened as they heard movement on the streets, but this time it was not law-enforcement officers, but a military contingent deploying across the area on grounds the municipality is facing a public security issue.

The order was given by the Ministry of the Interior and Justice, and aimed at bringing things back to normal in Chacao, said Minister Miguel Rodríguez Torres early in the morning.

Barricades in Venezuela lead to confrontation among the population

One more time, access was restrained on Wednesday in several areas in Caracas -from north to south and east to west- other than Altamira, northeast, where barricades have become customary. Now, demonstrators downtown Caracas are trying to make Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro hear citizens' complaints.

Street demonstrations have resulted in conflict inside communities. Neighbors have failed to reach an agreement: people calling for peaceful demonstrations are termed "chavistas" or "indifferent."

Source: El Universal

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