MOSCOW. Aug 8 (Interfax) - A coordinated plan of political reforms and a dialogue between the authorities and the opposition are the only way to end the crisis in Venezuela, according to Federation Council Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Konstantin Kosachyov.
"There is only one solution to the Venezuela crisis (which obviously exists, and there should be no pretense of everything going as planned): a dialogue between the authorities and the opposition and coordination of a plan of political reforms, which will help the economy and the social sector recover," Kosachyov said on Facebook.
The United States is doing its best to obstruct this dialogue, he said.
"The international community should pool efforts to keep the opposing sides at the negotiating table. And what are the Americans doing instead? They back one of the conflicting parties and smother the other one with economic sanctions. This is not the way to motivate the authorities and the opposition to continue the dialogue," Kosachyov said.
According to Venezuelan Communications Minister Jorge Rodriguez, President Nicolas Maduro has decided against sending a government delegation to talks with the opposition on August 8-9.
"The main reason is the harsh aggression of the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump," Kosachyov said.