Mission from Carter Center in Venezuela to promote dialogue

CARACAS, VENEZUELA - President Hugo Chavez discussed the fate of Venezuelan reconciliation talks Thursday with delegates from the United Nations, Organization of American States and the Atlanta-based Carter Center. <br> <br> Delegates were following up on a recent visit by former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, who failed to convince Venezuelan opposition leaders to meet with Chavez. <br> <br> Jennifer McCoy, director of the nonprofit Carter Center&#39;s Americas program, called the meeting with Chavez and Vice President Jose Vicente Rangel very productive. <br> <br> McCoy said, ``We are only offering our modest help so that Venezuelans can make decisions about how to advance (dialogue).&#39;&#39; Delegates planned to meet with opposition leaders before leaving Friday. <br> <br> Chavez had invited Carter to help him save government-sponsored reconciliation talks that began after an April coup. Leading participants dropped out, saying Chavez is unwilling to hear their complaints. <br> <br> Venezuela&#39;s main opposition parties insist that Chavez, who presides over an economy mired in recession, must go well before his term ends in 2007. They have filed court cases alleging corruption and are organizing a referendum to shorten his term.

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