Venezuela's imprisoned former leader Nicolas Maduro has welcomed "any path to dialogue," ahead of a US-backed meeting in the coming week between representatives of the Latin American country's interim government and opposition leaders.
The President Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores were captured in a US military operation in January and are being held in a New York detention centre awaiting trial on charges related to drug and firearms trafficking.
They have pleaded not guilty.
"We welcome any path to dialogue that helps consolidate peace, coexistence, and reconciliation among Venezuelans," read a message posted on the official Telegram account of the deposed president.
"To speak of a national renaissance as a common goal is to speak of mutual respect for diversity, of inclusion for everyone," he added.
Transition talks in Caracas
Maduro's comments come at a key moment, with Venezuela's government and the opposition announcing Saturday that political transition talks are expected to begin in person in the coming week in Caracas.
National Assembly head Jorge Rodriguez, who is the chief government negotiator and the interim president's brother, said the timing was agreed after a telephone call with opposition figure Dinorah Figuera.
The talks, however, are taking place without the participation of the main leader of the Venezuelan opposition, Nobel peace laureate Maria Corina Machado, who has said she will not obstruct the process.
Venezuela has been in a state of even bigger flux since US forces deposed Maduro.
Devastating June earthquakes killed more than 5,500 people, compounding the country's woes.
Jorge Rodriguez said the talks will address post-quake assistance, the "reinforcement of democracy," and political rights.
