OSLO, May 16 (WNM staff) - According to a media report, representatives of the government and opposition in Venezuela are currently conducting peace talks in Norway. The talks have been "in progress for several days" at a secret location in Oslo and should end on Thursday, the Norwegian public broadcaster NRK reported. This is the second time such talks have taken place in Oslo. Negotiations to this effect were also held in Cuba.

A spokeswoman for the Norwegian Foreign Ministry did not want to confirm or deny that Norway is involved in the peace process.

According to the NRK, the Venezuelan leadership, Communications Minister Jorge Rodríguez and the Governor of Miranda Province, Héctor Rodríguez, will take part in the talks. The opposition is therefore represented by ex-MEP Gerardo Blyde, ex-Minister Fernando Martínez Mottola and Vice-President of the National Assembly Stalin González. Venezuela's head of state Nicolás Maduro said in Caracas that Jorge Rodríguez was "on a very important mission abroad".

Meanwhile, The U.S. have suspended air traffic with Venezuela. Transport Ministry Elaine Chao justified the decision on Wednesday with the security situation in the South American country. She had thus followed a recommendation of the US Department of Homeland Security.

According to the information provided by the US Department of Homeland Security, the current situation in Venezuela threatens the safety of passengers and aviation personnel "travelling to or from this country". Both passenger and cargo flights will now be suspended.