CARACAS ( Associated Press) — Venezuela’s Foreign Minister Carlos Farias and his recently appointed counterpart अलlvaro Leyva, recently appointed by the new Colombian government, announced this Thursday that they were working to work for “gradual normalization” after a meeting in the Venezuelan border state of Tachira. expect. “After three years of cold in diplomatic relations between the two countries.
In a statement broadcast by Venezuela’s state channel, Leva read out statements from both sides indicating that during the meeting he expressed his desire to advance the work agenda beginning on 7 August, when Gustavo entered the history of Petro- The first elected were the leftists. Andean countries – take power.
They reaffirmed their desire to “strengthen ties of friendship and cooperation with a review of all issues of bilateral interest for the benefit of our people’s happiness,” and that they “reaffirmed their desire to make joint efforts to guarantee Reaffirmed their desire for “security and peace on the border of our two countries.”
The nations share a 2,200-kilometre border, with several secret and remote crossings – known as “trochas” – used by paramilitary groups, drug smugglers and guerrillas to maintain operations and control in areas which leads to frequent violent conflicts between the groups. ,
At the meeting of the parties, which will be the first between ministers of the two countries after three years, Freddie Bernal, the official governor of the border state of Tachira, and the Deputy Special Representative at the UN Verification Mission were also present. Colombia, Raul Rosende, according to Leva’s announcements.
Venezuela’s Foreign Minister Farias announced that it also expected the re-establishment of ambassadors in the two countries and the gradual opening of the border.
The common move was capped off by Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro’s mandate in 2019, when he also severed diplomatic ties with Colombia, arguing that his counterpart, Iván Duque, was promoting plans to overthrow him. Had given.
For its part, its neighboring country, with the duke in power, was one of the regions that recognized opposition leader Juan Guaidó as Venezuela’s interim president, when he declared himself as such in 2019, Arguing that Maduro was re-elected in some fraud. elections held in 2018
After Petro was elected in the second round, Maduro and he held talks about his desire to restore normalcy at the borders.
In a recent interview with the Associated Press, Petro-appointed Finance Minister, Jose Antonio Ocampo, was optimistic about a possible reopening of the border and stressed that it is in the interests of businessmen from both countries for economic reactivation. “You have to remember that Venezuela was our second trading partner. If this is achieved it is a huge opportunity. Obviously it depends on a strong reactivation of the Venezuelan economy, but it is already the first year in which the Venezuelan economy is expected to develop,” he indicated.
From June 2021, Colombia has opened all border crossings with Venezuela. However, in practice it is possible to cross the border only on foot. Expectations are on for the next opening of a land crossing allowing the transport of cargo.
Despite border closures, a lack of direct flights between the two countries, and strained relations that have persisted in recent years, Colombia has received nearly two million Venezuelan expatriates of more than five million people, who are economic, political and economic. have gone from This has affected Venezuela.
