They know what they have to do to look for an electoral solution".
He added that the United States supported "a peaceful, democratic, constitutional and politically viable electoral solution to Venezuela's crisis".
For weeks, the Organisation of American States has been trying to mediate an "electoral solution" to Venezuela's stand-off.
"I hope the parties are trying to get ready to talk about the real matter, which is an electoral solution," Mr. Gaviria said.
"There has to be an electoral solution to this, and both sides at least say this is what they favor," Mr. Shifter said.
There is an electoral solution: the opposition Tories want a general election to let the people sweep the cursed crooks from office (and themselves into it).
While the opposition said it would now focus on negotiations with the government to bring about an electoral solution to the political turmoil, the talks will at best lead to elections later this year that Mr. Chávez may very well win.
The American ambassador, Charles Shapiro, expressed his concern over the developments today after meeting with Mr. Gaviria, telling reporters that Venezuelans should reject violence and search for a "peaceful, constitutional, democratic and electoral solution".
In May, the two sides signed an accord, brokered by the Organization of American States, in which they settled on an electoral solution as the way to resolve the country's stalemate.
Washington has mostly kept to the sidelines, after its embarrassing endorsement of an aborted coup against Mr. Chávez in April, carefully and wisely calling only for an "electoral solution".
