Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro salutes next to his wife Cilia Flores during an event in La Guaira, Venezuela, August 20, 2019. /VCG Photo
The government and four opposition groups of Venezuela on Monday held national conciliation talks and signed an accord.
The ruling socialist party and the opposition groups agreed to re-incorporate pro-government deputies into the National Assembly, Venezuelan Minister of Communication and Information Jorge Rodriguez said.
They also agreed to "create a new national electoral council and electoral guarantees to accompany the voting process," said Rodriguez, who read out the consensuses reached by both sides.
The judiciary, as agreed, will release opposition activists from jail if their cases allow it.
Venezuela's Communications and Information Minister Jorge Rodriguez delivers a statement at Miraflores Palace in Caracas, Venezuela, August 31, 2019. /Reuters Photo
The two sides jointly demanded an "immediate lifting" of economic and financial sanctions imposed by the United States.
The accord recommends the implementation of a program, under supervision by the United Nations, to exchange Venezuelan oil for food, medicine and other basic items the South American country needs to import.
The solution to Venezuela's political conflict can only be found through dialogue, said the accord.
Venezuela's political and economic crisis escalated in January, after the U.S.-backed far right refused to recognize President Nicolas Maduro's re-election for a second term and opposition deputy Juan Guaido declared himself interim president.
Washington swiftly recognized Guaido, who did not participate in Monday's talks.