by Willey Penuela
CARACAS, June 18 (Xinhua) -- The United States stands in the way of dialogue in Norway between the Venezuelan government and the opposition, says one expert.
"The U.S. is not at the negotiating table, but it has a great influence over what develops there," said Luis Quintana, professor at the Bolivarian Military University of Venezuela.
Quintana foresees that the White House will try to divide the opposition if what is negotiated is not in its best interest. He said the opposition's main challenge is "maintaining a relatively autonomous position with respect to the U.S."
In May, the Norwegian government served as a mediator of rounds of talks between delegates from the Venezuelan goverment and the opposition, aiming to break months of stalemate in Venezuela.
According to the expert, the opposition responding to U.S. interests and its participation in the dialogue process does not necessarily imply that they have abandoned other courses of action aimed at overthrowing Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.
Representatives for the opposition have participated in the talks, "without completely ruling out a possible U.S. military intervention on Venezuela through its own resources or through third parties," he warned.
However, Quintana recognized that those talks have the United States' consent and that the Norway dialogue presents a valuable opportunity.
"It is impossible that the leadership of the opposition sent representatives to a dialogue, to a negotiation process in Norway without the approval, passive or active, of the United States government," he said.
One of the elements that Quintana believes should characterize the dialogue process is the implementation of partial agreements, which will pave the way for a general agreement.
"Before that agreement is signed between the parties, they should draw partial agreements to attain governability. For example, (they could sign partial) agreements related to the economic sanctions that severely affect the Venezuelan people," Quintana said.
"The final result must be a political agreement of governability to give stability to Venezuela, (and) to give way to a political and peaceful solution to overcome the crisis in Venezuela," he said.
