Venezuela's interim leader Delcy Rodriguez has thanked US President Donald Trump for restoring diplomatic ties and told the United Nations that "there will be elections" in the Latin American country.
Addressing the UN General Assembly in New York on Wednesday, she said, "I want to state this very clearly before this General Assembly: there will be elections in Venezuela," adding that she did not mention a timeline.
Many Venezuelans were hopeful that ongoing, US-backed political transition talks between the interim government and parts of the opposition would lead to a democratic election.
But those hopes were dashed somewhat in early September when Trump, speaking shortly after striking a mega oil deal with Caracas, brushed off the notion of a vote in the near future.
Rodriguez echoed those comments at the time.
Her trip to New York has featured meetings with International Monetary Fund executives and several heads of state, including Trump.
New phase
Rodriguez also hailed a new phase in relations with the United States, saying Caracas seeks to rebuild diplomatic and cooperative ties with Washington.
"Today, Venezuela is being reborn, and that is why today Venezuela seeks to rebuild and build relations of cooperation with the US, with its neighbours, and with all countries of the international community," Rodriguez said Wednesday in an address to the UN General Assembly.
"I want to thank (US President) Donald Trump and his administration for returning to the path of diplomatic relations with Venezuela," she added.
Rodriguez highlighted a recently signed bilateral agreement between Caracas and Washington, describing it as "one of the largest ever concluded" and saying it would contribute to the energy balance in the Western Hemisphere and the global economy.
The last Venezuelan leader to address the UN General Assembly was Nicolas Maduro in 2018.
