U.S. Welcomes Conclusion of Third Round of Venezuela Reconciliation Talks, Urges Release of All Political Prisoners
U.S. Department of State spokesperson Thomas "Tommy" Pigott said in a statement on Oct. 22 that the United States welcomes the conclusion of the third round of political reconciliation talks between Venezuela's 2015 National Assembly and the interim government. According to the statement, the two sides agreed to review and revise a number of repressive laws, to move forward with rebuilding an independent Supreme Court, and to select 32 new judges.
The statement says that since the talks began, press freedom in Venezuela has improved, with more than 70 previously blocked websites restored to access; the two sides agreed to recover gold reserves held at the Bank of England for earthquake relief and to reform the Anti-Hate Law. It says the interim government has released more than 1,000 political prisoners to date, and urges the immediate release of all political prisoners.
The statement also notes that Secretary of State Marco Rubio met on Oct. 9 with Dr. Dinorah Figuera, president of the 2015 National Assembly. It describes the Trump administration's approach to Venezuela as a three-phase plan: stabilization, economic recovery and political reconciliation.
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：位于华盛顿的美国国务院总部 Harry S. Truman 大楼。照片：美国国务院，公共领域，经 Wikimedia Commons。 / The Harry S. Truman Building, headquarters of the U.S. Department of State in Washington. Photo: U.S. Department of State, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
