Venezuela: Next Friends Group Meeting

Question: When and where will the next Friends Group meeting take place?

Answer: Friends Group members are currently consulting in their capitals following the January 30 – February 2, 2003 trip by senior representatives to Caracas. Although we expect a follow-on meeting of the Friends to be convoked in the near future, a specific date has not yet been set.

In the meantime, Organization of American States Secretary General Gaviria remains in Caracas to facilitate dialogue between both the opposition and to the Government of Venezuela. The United States continues to believe that the proposals tabled by former President Jimmy Carter offer the Venezuelan people the best opportunity for a constitutional, democratic, peaceful and electoral solution to the crisis in their country.