Jailed ex-leader Maduro welcomes ‘any path to dialogue’ in Venezuela

Caracas, Venezuela: Former President Nicolas Maduro, currently incarcerated in a New York detention facility, has expressed his readiness for any path to dialogue in the wake of a recent US-backed meeting between Venezuela's interim government and opposition leaders. The leftist leader and his wife, Cilia Flores, were apprehended in a US military operation in January and face trial on drug and firearms charges.

In a message on the deposed president's official Telegram account, Maduro stated, "We welcome any path to dialogue that helps consolidate peace, coexistence, and reconciliation among Venezuelans."

Maduro, 63, has maintained regular contact with his legal team while awaiting trial in a US federal court. Following his removal from power, the US appointed his vice president, Delcy Rodriguez, as the interim leader of the country. The US has been pushing for a political dialogue that could culminate in a schedule for future elections in Venezuela.

Just days after Maduro's arrest, both the interim government and opposition leaders announced that political transition talks would commence in person in Caracas. Jorge Rodriguez, the National Assembly head and chief government negotiator, revealed that the meetings would take place without the participation of the Venezuelan opposition's main leader, Nobel peace laureate Maria Corina Machado, who has agreed to the process without obstructing it.

The talks will address rebuilding efforts in the aftermath of devastating June earthquakes that claimed over 5,500 lives, as well as the reinforcement of democracy and political rights.