Page 12 - ARUBA TODAY

A12 WORLD NEWS
Friday 14 June 2019

Officials: Major powers discuss Venezuelan crisis in Sweden

By ARITZ PARRA validity of his re-election
JOSHUA GOODMAN last year, showing no sign
Associated Press that he intends to go back
BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) — to campaigning any time
Sweden is hosting talks be- soon.
tween major powers with “Nobody who is straight in
stakes in dealing with Ven- the head would sit across
ezuela’s political turmoil, from a dictator thinking
the latest effort to jumpstart he is negotiating in good
flagging attempts to find faith,” Guaidó said last Fri-
a peaceful solution to the day.
country’s deepening crisis. But the opposition’s options
A European diplomat said appear to be steadily dwin-
Thursday that representa- dling. The initial enthusiasm
tives of the United Nations, among Venezuelans who
the Vatican, Cuba and poured into the streets by
the European Union were the thousands to support
attending the talks. He Guaidó has waned. An at-
also said that Washington tempt to spark a military re-
and Moscow were joining bellion in late April quickly
the Stockholm meeting, fizzled.
though an American offi- As the crisis drags on,
cial with knowledge of the Venezuelans line up at an immigration processing office on the Rumichaca bridge, before droves of Venezuelans
discussions said the U.S. was crossing the border from Colombia to Ecuador, Thursday, June 13, 2019. are continuing to flee and
not participating. Associated Press those who stay find their
“The talks in Stockholm are neled the frustrations of waste of time, saying only spoke on condition of ano- quality of life steadily de-
for backing the Norway angry Venezuelans but has low-level diplomats were nymity because he wasn’t teriorating. The United Na-
dialogue,” the European been unable to weaken involved. authorized to discuss the tions estimates 4 million
diplomat said, referring President Nicolás Maduro’s A spokeswoman for the Rus- issue. The latest develop- have migrated in recent
to talks in Oslo between grip on power. Meanwhile, sian Foreign Ministry, Maria ment takes place just a years to escape an implod-
Venezuela’s government punishing U.S. sanctions Zakharova, said Swedish week after Guaidó said no ing economy battered by
and opposition that have and pre-existing shortages officials were hosting an in- additional talks were imme- hyperinflation and wide-
stalled in recent days. “All of basic goods has made ternational meeting to seek diately being planned in spread shortages of food
parties feel the need to life more difficult for many solutions to the Venezuela Norway. He reiterated that and medicine.
keep as low key as possible Venezuelans. ordeal. She said Russia was the opposition’s demand The government began cir-
because the mediation is Guaidó in brief comments being represented by the for a new presidential culating larger denomina-
going through a delicate during a tour of the north- head of the ministry’s South election is not negotiable. tions bolivar bills Thursday as
phase.” western state of Mérida America department. About 50 nations, including it tries to keep up with infla-
The Stockholm meeting told a crowd that Venezu- Enrique Iglesias, a seasoned the United States, consider tion. The central bank said
comes as a growing chorus ela’s crisis was being dis- diplomat recently appoint- Venezuela’s 2018 presiden- the bills of 10,000, 20,000
of international actors press cussed in Stockholm but ed as the European Union’s tial election illegitimate, in and 50,000 bolivars would
for a mediated solution to offered no details. A Vene- special envoy for Venezu- large part because strong help make payments and
end Venezuela’s power zuelan government source ela, was also participating opponents of Maduro were transactions “more effi-
struggle. Opposition leader with knowledge of the talks in the meeting, according not able to run. cient.” But the biggest new
Juan Guaidó has chan- characterized them as a to a representative who Maduro has stood by the bill is worth just about $8. q

Mexican journalist rescued hours after abduction by gunmen

By MICHAEL KRUMHOLTZ for minor injuries. “I am going to continue my
Associated Press Taking off a neck brace in criticism against the gov-
MEXICO CITY (AP) — A the video, Miranda Cogco ernment,” Miranda Cogco
kidnapped journalist was said it was the third time in said.
rescued by security forces the last six to eight years Veracruz state Gov. Cuit-
in the Gulf coast state of that someone had at- láhuac García announced
Veracruz hours after he tacked or tried to kidnap the rescue early Thursday
was taken by armed men him. via Twitter, applauding the
outside his home, Mexican His wife said after his ab- military and state and fed-
officials and the journalist duction Wednesday that eral police for their efforts.
said Thursday. he had received threats The New York-based Com-
Police said in a statement for years due to his report- mittee to Protect Journalists
that they intercepted a Authorities cordon off the area where journalist Marcos Miranda ing on Noticias A Tiempo, calls Mexico the most dan-
suspicious vehicle travel- was kidnapped, in Boca del Rio, Veracruz state, Mexico, a news page on Facebook gerous country for reporters
ing down a dirt road late Wednesday, June 12, 2019. that he founded and edits. in the Western Hemisphere.
Wednesday and a shoot- Associated Press Miranda Cogco said on the Forty-nine journalists have
out ensued between of- In a Facebook video, Mi- ing in the port city of Boca video that he was happy been slain in the country
ficers and three apparent randa Cogco said he del Rio. He said he was tak- to be alive and would take since 1992 for motives con-
captors, who escaped on ducked to the floor of the en to a room and stripped a few days to rest and be firmed as related to their
foot. Reporter Marcos Mi- vehicle to avoid flying bul- naked while his captors with family before resum- work, while 62 more were
randa Cogco was discov- lets. took photos of him and re- ing reporting Monday. He killed in circumstances that
ered tied up in the back of The journalist was kid- peatedly hit him in the neck vowed not to let the inci- have not been clarified,
the car. napped Wednesday morn- and head. He was treated dent intimidate him. the group says.q