VENEZUELA-POLITICS-Venezuela government and opposition sign agreements.

BRIDGETOWN -- Venezuela's government and opposition Tuesday signed agreements here paving the way for new electoral conditions in the South American country and raising the possibility of the removal of sanctions by the United States against Caracas.

The signings here came following the latest round of talks mediated by Norway and after multiple rounds of talks in 2021 and 2022 that had been hosted by Mexico.

Barbados Foreign Affairs Minister Dr. Jerome Walcott, speaking at the ceremony, said Bridgetown as well as the entire Caribbean Community (CARICOM) grouping were pleased with the outcome of the deliberations between the representatives of the Venezuelan government and the opposition Unitary Platform.

'What we are witnessing today has been the culimination of a process that started here in Barbados in 2019, and here we are four years hence to host its conclusion. One of the more important takeways from this process has been the need to keep the communication channels and a willingess to engage in dialogue,' Walcott said.

'This for us has been a halmark of the negotiations. We thank Norway for providing the facilitators... our gratitude goes out to Mexico for serving as the host country for this round of negotiations,' Walcott said, thanking also Russia and the Netherlands for seeing the process through to its completion.

'The conclusion of these negotiations and what they portend has major significance, not only for the people of Venezuela but also for all Caribbean states where there is recognition of the Caribbean Sea as a zone of peace.

'This is a message that Barbados and its regional neighbours have been repeating in all regional and international fora and that it is never too late for dialogue.'

Walcott said that Venezuela has always been helpful to the Caribbean when energy crises have loomed dating back to the 1980's through the San Jose Accord to the current PetroCaribe initiative , a a regional oil procurement agreement between Venezuela and Caribbean member states that started in 2005.

'Venezuela has been to support us. Now that the process has been concluded and Venezuela moves towards regaining its economic independence, we are looking forward in the very near future to a PetroCaribe 2 arrangement,' Walcott said, adding that just as dialogue has brought about a positive outcome in this process 'we as members of the Caribbean Community look forward to continued dialogue with Venezuela on matters of regional interest.

'The...