Former US President Jimmy Carter it to visit Venezuela next week to support democracy and dialogue in the politically divided country after a short-lived April coup against President Hugo Chavez, a Carter representative said on Saturday.
"Former President Jimmy Carter ... will make a trip to Venezuela next July 6-10," Jennifer McCoy told reporters at Caracas' Maiquetia airport at the end of a week-long visit by a delegation from the Atlanta-based Carter Center.
McCoy said next week's visit by Carter, who since leaving office in 1981 has worked to settle world conflicts, would seek to promote peaceful political dialogue in Venezuela, which is deeply split over the rule of left-wing president Chavez.
The April 11-14 coup, in which the former paratrooper turned politician was briefly deposed by dissident military officers before being restored by loyal troops, rocked investor confidence in the world's fifth-largest oil exporter.
The South American country, a major supplier of crude oil to the U.S. market, has remained on edge since then because of continuing feuding between Chavez supporters and foes and persistent rumors that another coup may be imminent.
McCoy said the Carter Center delegation believed that both the Chavez government and its political foes wanted to settle their differences through peaceful, democratic talks.
"The delegation is very impressed with the deep commitment shown by Venezuelans to democracy and by the solid support for a peaceful solution to the divisions in the nation," said McCoy, who heads the Center's Americas Program.
"It is very important to continue with this to reduce tensions," she added.
During their visit, the Carter Center delegates held talks with Chavez, his Vice President Jose Vicente Rangel, business, labor and media chiefs and leaders of the opposition.
Chavez's government, which has invited Carter to visit, has said it is willing to accept foreign support for internal reconciliation in Venezuela but is not interested in direct mediation by outside organizations or personalities.
McCoy said Carter was willing to help Venezuela obtain backing for its internal peace dialogue and democracy from international bodies like the United Nations, the Organization of American States and the European Union.