US diplomat in Venezuela for high-level talks

By Maria Paz Salas

SANTIAGO, Chile (AA) – A top U.S. diplomat arrived Tuesday in Venezuela to kick start talks between the two countries.

Thomas Shannon is expected to meet with different political actors including President Nicolas Maduro.

He will also meet “some special people” as he described, from the Venezuelan opposition that is seeking to activate a recall referendum against Maduro’s government.

State Department spokesman John Kirby said Shannon is going to start a dialogue about the political, economic and social crises that the South American country is facing.

“Try to encourage this dialogue -- it is what we want to do. We also recognize that it can’t be really meaningful and productive unless all parties are involved.

That’s what Ambassador Shannon is doing, helping to boost the dialogue,” Kirby said.

During his two-day visit, Shannon will look to give continuity to a meeting Secretary of State John Kerry held in the Dominican Republic last month with Venezuelan Foreign Minister Delcy Rodriguez.

During that meeting, the two foreign ministers agreed to Shannon’s trip to Caracas to start talks.

Relations between United States and Venezuela are often strained and the two countries have not had ambassador-level communications since 2010.

Venezuela accuses the U.S. in meddling in its affairs while the White House holds that Caracas violates human rights.