Rubio urges Venezuela opposition to join transition talks with interim government

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Friday urged “everyone who cares about the future of Venezuela” to take part in talks with the interim government of Delcy Rodriguez on a political transition, saying the process must involve “every sector of society.”

“I want to leave it abundantly clear that this process that she is leading, along with her team, has 100 percent support, the strongest possible support from the highest levels of our government,” Rubio told reporters alongside Dinorah Figuera, president of Venezuela’s 2015 National Assembly, before their meeting at the State Department in Washington.

“And we encourage everyone who cares about the future of Venezuela to participate in this process in a way that’s positive. They have already achieved concrete results; more results will be necessary,” he said.

“This is going to involve the participation – it has to involve the participation of every sector of society,” he added.

In a readout of the meeting, the State Department said Rubio “commended Figuera’s courageous leadership in advancing political reconciliation following Operation Absolute Resolve,” referring to the US military operation in January that seized former President Nicolas Maduro.

He also “urged continued progress on political freedoms and electoral reform” ahead of the third round of reconciliation talks beginning Oct. 14, according to the statement.

A separate statement said the third round will focus on finalizing the Supreme Court selection process and “participation guarantees necessary for credible elections,” while future rounds will address “opening political space so all political parties and leaders can return and participate in political life.”