|
Chinese Ambassador to Venezuela Wang Zhen said in Caracas Wednesday he welcomed the agreement reached last week between the Venezuelan government and opposition aimed at ending the political crisis which erupted more than one year ago.
Bidding farewell to Vice President Jose Rangel before ending his diplomatic mission in Venezuela that falls on June 13, Wang said the agreement, which sets up a framework for a referendum to be held on the tenure of President Hugo Chavez, "is important for the tranquility and political stability, progress, prosperity and welfare of the Venezuelan people."
The Venezuelan government and opposition last Friday reached a 19-point tentative agreement to hold a possible referendum on Chavez's presidency after Aug. 19 when half of his term expires.
Also on Wednesday, Cesar Gaviria, secretary general of the Organization of American States, told reporters in Caracas that such referendum could be held around November.
He announced on Tuesday that the agreement would be signed on Thursday in Caracas.
Under the pact, both the government and the opposition pledged to work toward a constitutional resolution to the crisis.
The government agreed to an opposition demand to set up a truth commission that would look into the deaths of anti-Chavez demonstrators in April, 2002.
Both sides also agreed to disarm the civilian population while the government agreed to place police under civilian command.
(Xinhua News Agency May 29, 2003)
|
