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Venezuela’s acting president promised elections at the U.N. while seeking dialogue with Washington. She outlined plans for recovery.
Venezuela’s acting president, Delcy Rodríguez, told the United Nations on Wednesday that elections will be held in Venezuela, but said the country’s people will determine when the process begins. Her remarks came during her first address to the U.N. General Assembly since taking power.
Rodríguez said her government has begun political dialogue with opposition groups and would seek a process based on equal conditions for all sides. She also said Venezuelan institutions would be prepared to guarantee what she described as an inclusive and transparent electoral process when the time comes.
The speech marked Rodríguez’s first appearance before the General Assembly as Venezuela’s acting president and came as Caracas seeks to restore diplomatic and economic ties with Washington. She thanked U.S. President Donald Trump for his willingness to resume relations and said Venezuela was working to resolve differences through dialogue.
Rodríguez said the two governments were discussing cooperation in areas including energy, security, the fight against transnational crime and economic relations. Her comments followed a meeting with Trump at a New York hotel on Tuesday, when the two discussed strengthening bilateral relations and cooperation in strategic sectors.
The Venezuelan leader also addressed the country’s internal recovery, acknowledging that the process would take time. She said rebuilding the country and moving toward a period of democracy would be priorities for her administration.
Rodríguez came to power after former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro was captured during a U.S. military operation in January and taken to the United States to face drug-trafficking charges, according to AP. Her appearance at the General Assembly was also described as a milestone in Venezuela’s return to international diplomacy.
The address comes as Venezuela and the United States pursue a new relationship following years of diplomatic tensions. Rodríguez said Venezuela wanted to exercise its rights as a sovereign nation while working with other countries through dialogue and cooperation.
Sources: Associated Press, NBC News and Local 10 News.