Venezuelan opponents in Norway for talks

CARACAS, Venezuela -- Diplomatic efforts aimed at resolving Venezuela's crisis accelerated Thursday as the government and opposition sent envoys to talks in Norway, though the two sides' mutual mistrust and differences on key issues could prevent any quick solution.

The Norwegian attempt to mediate, confirmed by opposition officials, comes amid tensions exploding into street violence when the opposition called in vain for a military uprising April 30. Details about the initiative, including whether envoys from opposing camps would even negotiate directly, were scarce.

But it coincides with diplomatic efforts elsewhere: Opposition leader Juan Guaido said in Caracas he planned to meet a delegation from a mostly European group of nations later Thursday, and Canadian Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland met Thursday with Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez in Havana.

Norway has hosted secret peace talks over the years. They include the negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians in September 1993, talks between the Philippines government and Maoist rebels in 2011, and the brokering of a 2002 cease-fire between Sri Lankan government and Tamil Tiger rebel negotiators. Seven years ago, negotiators from the Colombian government and left-wing FARC rebels held their first direct talks in a decade in Norway.

The Norwegian Centre for Conflict Resolution has worked behind the scenes since last year to bring the two sides in Venezuela together. In October, it sponsored an initiative to bring a Harvard-trained conflict resolution expert to Caracas to foster dialogue. In recent months, with the support of Norway's foreign ministry and diplomats based in Bogota, Colombia, its representatives made several trips to Caracas.

Per Wiggen, an official from Norway's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, did not confirm planned talks in Oslo, though Norway has urged the two sides to talk since February. Minister Ine Eriksen Soereide told lawmakers March 5 that Norway could be a mediator.

The representatives in Norway include Information Minister Jorge Rodriguez on the government side and Stalin Gonzalez, a leading member of the opposition-controlled congress.

Without elaborating, Maduro said Rodriguez was on a "very important" mission outside Venezuela.

The myriad diplomatic efforts reflect a recognition in Venezuela neither side has been able to prevail in the struggle for power, leaving the country in a state of political paralysis after years of hyperinflation and shortages of food and medicine.

"You don't negotiate because you want to. You negotiate because you have to," said Geoff Ramsey, a Venezuela researcher at the nongovernmental Washington Office on Latin America.

"It's become pretty clear neither has been able to impose their dominant strategy on the other," he said.

Ramsey added the Venezuelan envoys would have to resist pressure from allies who don't want to compromise.

Guaido confirmed envoys were in Norway, but warned the opposition won't enter into any "false negotiation."

He said any talks on resolving the Venezuelan crisis must lead to the end of President Nicolas Maduro's government, its replacement by a transitional administration and free and fair elections.