CARACAS.- The mutual confidence to move forward towards the restoration of full and lasting political and diplomatic relations will guarantee today that Venezuela and Colombia will open their borders after more than seven years of closure.
President Nicolás Maduro and his Colombian counterpart, Gustavo Petro, announced the measure on 9 September, which has also been linked to the resumption of commercial flights between Caracas-Bogota and Valencia, with the state capital of New Granada.
The president wrote on his Twitter account, “I am very pleased to announce that starting #26, we will jointly open the borders between Venezuela and Colombia. In addition, we will open the borders between Caracas-Bogota and Valencia-Bogota. Will resume flights.” He stressed that “exchanges and cooperation between our peoples is starting on the right foot.”
The moment is going to be good for both countries and will be “very exciting” for Colombians and Venezuelans, the president stressed during a meeting with the country’s governors and mayors.
This initial move was preceded by a series of meetings between officials from the Ministries of Transport, Commerce and Economy, and Foreign Ministers Carlos Faria (Venezuela) and lvaro Leva (Colombia), in addition to the Defense Ministries.
Last Saturday the meeting of high military commanders, Vladimir Padrino and Ivan Velázquez, respectively outlined the roadmap to maintain security, to be able to move forward in general plans for social development and infrastructure in the border of the troubled region. is important.
Previously, Venezuelan and Colombian intellectuals had organized a binational meeting of the Poet La Paz Unites Us, held in Cucuta, Norte de Santander and San Cristóbal, Tachira State.
A meeting of lawmakers from the Colombian Congress and Venezuela’s National Assembly was also scheduled yesterday, with five scheduled meetings postponed to the foreseeable future, some of which may take place before the end of 2022.
The initial opening of the 2,219-km border raised hopes on both sides of the local population and small, medium and large traders, which means bilateral trade has hitherto almost crippled the economic system.
According to data published here, trade between the two countries reached $8 billion in the period between 2007 and 2009, and is expected to reach US$2 billion before the end of the year.
The break-up of relations occurred in February 2019 due to self-proclaimed President Juan Guaido’s own intentions to violate the legitimacy of the constitutional government of the Bolivarian Republic.
It was not until the last 29 August that Caracas and Bogota reestablished it with the delivery of credential letters to President Nicolás Maduro, by the Colombian ambassador appointed here, Armando Benedetti, an action which he called on 7 September from Gustavo Petro, Felix Placencia. was repeated earlier.
