Venezuelan gov't, opposition to hold talks following local elections

CARACAS, Dec. 13 (Xinhua) -- Venezuela's socialist government and right-wing opposition expect to meet Dec. 15 in the Dominican Republic for a new round of dialogue following Sunday's local elections, a government minister said on Wednesday.

The elections, which the opposition boycotted, saw the ruling party win more than 300 mayoralties.

"We will be there ... to settle and resolve Venezuela's social, economic and political problems," Jorge Rodriguez, head of the government delegation and minister of communications, told state-run VTV on Wednesday, from Istanbul, Turkey.

"That is the way (to resolve differences), not through unconstitutional means," he added, in an apparent reference to often violent opposition-led anti-government demonstrations.

Also Wednesday, opposition Deputy Luis Florido, a member of the National Assembly, or Congress, described the last round of talks, held in Santo Domingo on Dec. 1 and 2, as "positive" and "constructive."

However, in an interview aired on privately-owned TV channel Globovision, Florido said he had "reservations because there are still many issues to resolve."

"We are not going to sign any agreement that is not beneficial to the country," he added. Enditem