The US government has temporarily lifted sanctions on Venezuelan oil, gas and gold as a reward for the agreement with the opposition, although he did ask for an end to the disqualifications of politicians and the release of political prisoners.

Washington had promised that it would lift sanctions if Caracas took concrete steps in favor of transparent elections in 2024 and that it would comply, but with conditions, the report said. Episode.

“The United States welcomes the signing of an electoral roadmap agreement between the Unitary Platform and representatives of (Nicolás) Maduro. In accordance with US sanctions policy, in response to these democratic developments, the Treasury Department issued licenses authorizing transactions involving the Venezuelan oil and gas sector and the gold sector.said Brian Nelson, Treasury Department Undersecretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence.

This Wednesday, the Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) issued a six-month authorization that “Temporarily authorizes transactions related to the oil and gas sector in Venezuelaand that it will only be extended if Caracas meets its obligations.

The oil embargo had been in place since April 2019 and limited marketing, critical to the country’s economy.

A second license allows transactions with Minerven, the Venezuelan state gold mining company, to, according to the Ministry of Finance, “reduce the trade in gold on the black market”.

In addition, two licenses were amended “to lift the ban on secondary trading” of certain bonds of the Venezuelan state oil company PDVSA, but trading on the primary market is still prohibited.

At the Miraflores Palace, Nicholas Maduro expressed his satisfaction with the measures that were arrived at after months of negotiations behind the scenes.

The day before, the Venezuelan government and the platform that brings together the main opposition parties arrived signed agreements establishing political rights and electoral guaranteesas well as the lifting of sanctions and respect for Venezuela’s sovereignty, details Europe Press.

The elections will be held in the second half of 2024 after the selection by each political actor of its candidates, “freely and in accordance with their internal mechanisms.” International election observers will also be present at the presidential elections.

Maduro, who published the joint agreement, noted that this text “affirms the strengthening of an inclusive democracy and political coexistence that will defend human rights” as enshrined in Venezuela’s Constitution. (JO)