WASHINGTON (AN) — A new U.N.-administered fund to direct US$3 billion in humanitarian aid to Venezuelans will be set up under an agreement between representatives of President Nicolas Maduro's government and the opposition.
The signing of the agreement on Saturday in Mexico City between the socialist government and opposition, including U.S.-backed Juan Guaidó, restarts negotiations and clears the way for Chevron to resume pumping oil from its Venezuelan joint ventures.
A joint statement by the parties, which was negotiated in a process facilitated by Norway and hosted by Mexico, said they resumed negotiations and signed a second partial agrement to create the humanitarian fund. They also agreed to address "political matters" when talks resume in December that include human rights issues and holding free and fair elections in 2024.
About US$3 billion in frozen funds is expected to be directed to the new U.N.-administered fund from the Venezuelan government's frozen assets held in U.S. and European banks, according to the agreement.
U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres welcomed the developments intended to allocate money for health, food, education and electricity that provide people with social protection and humanitarian assistance, according to Farhan Haq, deputy spokesman for the secretary-general.
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