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WORLD NEWS Wednesday 9 March 2022
Maduro signals interest in better Venezuela, U.S. relations

By REGINA GARCIA CANO promises to reshuffle global
and JOSHUA GOODMAN alliances and add to rising
Associated Press gas prices driving inflation
CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) already at a four-decade
— Venezuela President high. Powerful Democrats
Nicolás Maduro signaled and Republicans alike on
an interest in improving Capitol Hill last week be-
relations with the U.S. fol- gan voicing support for a
lowing weekend talks with U.S. ban on Russian oil and
high-level American offi- natural gas imports as the
cials prompted in part by next step to punish Russia
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine President Vladimir Putin for
and concerns of rising gas the invasion.
prices in the U.S. Venezuela is Putin’s top ally
Maduro, in a televised in Latin America and a top
meeting with cabinet oil exporter. Its reentry into
members late Monday, did U.S. energy markets could
not provide details of the mitigate the fallout at the
discussions. Neither did a pump from a possible oil
White House spokeswoman embargo on Russia. But
earlier. But he seemed to the discussions in Caracas
indicate he was willing to were quickly condemned
accede to U.S. demands Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro speaks during a ceremony marking the start of the judicial by top Democrat and Re-
that he resume negotia- year at the Supreme Court in Caracas, Venezuela, Jan. 27, 2022. Associated Press public senators.
tions with his opponents as U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez,
a first building block for any the world. And I ratify, as I leader Juan Guaidó as the paign to unseat Maduro chairman of the Senate
relief from U.S. sanctions said to the delegation, all country’s legitimate leader. that he inherited from the Foreign Relations Commit-
that have been punishing our will to advance in an They came together after Trump administration. tee, said Biden’s efforts to
the OPEC nation for years. agenda of well-being and months of quiet backchan- But the impetus for a risky unite the world against Pu-

“We have agreed to work peace through diplomacy, nel talks by intermediaries outreach to Maduro who tin “should not be undercut
on an agenda going for- respect and the highest American lobbyists, Norwe- has been sanctioned and by propping up” Maduro,
ward, issues of interest,” hope for a better world.” gian diplomats and inter- is indicted in New York on whose government is under
Maduro said. “It seemed The discussions come a lit- national oil executives who drug trafficking charges investigation by the Inter-

to me very important to tle more than three years have been pushing for U.S. took on added urgency national Criminal Court for
be able, face to face, dis- after the U.S. broke off re- President Joe Biden to re- following Russia’s invasion possible crimes against hu-
cuss issues of maximum in- lations with Maduro and visit the so-far-unsuccessful of Ukraine and ensuing manity committed against
terest to Venezuela and recognized opposition “maximum pressure” cam- U.S. sanctions there, which protesters in 2017. q