MOSCOW. Jan 11 (Interfax) - The Russian side stands for the cancellation of anti-Venezuelan sanctions, underlining the importance of intensifying inter-parliamentary cooperation between Moscow and Caracas, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said in a commentary on Wednesday.
The Venezuelan parliamentary elections were held "within the timeframe set out in the Constitution," Zakharova said in a commentary following the first meeting of the new convocation of the National Assembly of Venezuela, which began its work on January 5. The new assembly was elected at the parliamentary elections in December 2020.
"The start of the work of the new convocation of the parliament was also held in strict conformity with the country's constitutional law. Official representatives of foreign countries and UN institutions working in Venezuela attended the session," the commentary says.
"We congratulate the Venezuelan people with the start of an important stage of the normalization of the domestic political situation. We note the constructive commitment of the leadership of the National Assembly to launching broad negotiations involving all political forces, including ones not represented in the parliament," it says.
"The cancellation of illegal anti-Venezuelan sanctions should be a key premise for that," it says.
"We resolutely condemn the use of force aimed at swinging the situation in Venezuela. Such steps are a gesture of despair on the part of extremist forces, which are not ready to recognize the new political reality. Those who want to plunge the country into chaos through terrorist attacks and bloodshed are obstructing the finding of negotiated solutions to the crisis, focusing on preserving and deepening of the split in the Venezuelan society," it says.
"We believe that this path has no prospect and fraught with harsh consequences. It is important that the international community back the launch of a peaceful political inclusive dialogue between Venezuelans for the sake of improving the situation," it says.
Russia is ready "to closely cooperate with friendly Venezuela, its people, and legitimate authorities," it says.
"We will further strengthen the strategic partnership relations, which are developing in a sustainable way in many areas of mutual interest. We believe it is important to intensify inter-parliamentary contacts. We favor forging a close constructive interaction between the houses of the [Russian] Federal Assembly and the new composition of the National Assembly," Zakharova said in the commentary.