The restart of Colombian-Venezuelan relations was one of the most anticipated events from mid-2022 after the imminent rise to power in the neighboring nation of leftist President Gustavo Petro.
In fact, the New Granadan president raised this possibility repeatedly during the electoral campaign that finally took him to the Palacio de Nariño.
With the purpose of marking a month of the reopening of the border this Wednesday, that will for the reunion was ratified last Friday when representatives in the Legislative Power of both countries held a meeting at several border points in the state of Táchira and the department of Norte de Santander, in which they signed agreements and, in particular, work commissions were organized that will establish a common agenda with the mayors, governors, councilors, as well as merchants, businessmen, ranchers and peasants from those areas.
The first big step in the political plane for reconciliation was taken by Colombia, by appointing Álvaro Benedetti as ambassador to our country. The diplomat went to the Miraflores Palace on August 29 to present his credentials to President Nicolás Maduro.
Venezuelan reciprocity was manifested in the same way, since former Foreign Minister Félix Plasencia traveled to Colombian territory the next day to deliver President Petro the required credential letters, which were finally received on September 7.
With these formalities completed, a cycle of meetings began with representatives and leaders from different sectors of both countries.
reopening of the border
In the context of the resumption of relations, one of the greatest expectations was the date for the reopening of the border between the two nations, which extends for more than 2,200 kilometers, considered before the definitive closure on February 22, 2019 ( after the pretensions of a Venezuelan group of the radical right to create situations of violence in national territory, specifically in the state of Táchira) as one of the most active in Latin America.
That wish was fulfilled on Monday, September 26, with the passage of a cargo truck through the Simón Bolívar bridge, coming from Colombia.
As a complementary measure to the opening of the land border, the resumption of commercial flights was announced, with Caracas-Bogotá and Valencia-Bogotá as initial destinations, with the possibility of expanding the routes, especially with the cities of Cúcuta and Maracaibo, being Laser the first authorized airline, according to information offered by Ambassador Armando Benedetti.
The return of Monomers
One of the main aspirations of Venezuela with the arrival of Petro to the Presidency was to return to the government of President Nicolás Maduro the administration of the Monómeros fertilizer company, which, after former President Iván Duque recognized deputy Juan Guaidó as “interim president” , was granted control of the state subsidiary of Pequiven.
Precisely this was another of Petro’s electoral offers, who considered from the first moment that Maduro was the legitimate president and should run the state company, which was weakened by mismanagement and acts of corruption during the Guaidó administration.
The announcement of the measure came after a meeting between Colombia’s superintendent of companies, Billy Escobar, and Venezuelan ambassador Félix Plasencia, on September 19.
“The decision means that we ratify the will of the Venezuelan government to appoint a board of directors, and that corresponds to the legality that is handled in the Colombian State in relation to the owners of a company and their power to choose their directors,” he said. Escobar at the end of the match.
Tienditas Bridge will open
Another important aspect framed in the restart of bilateral relations is the announcement of the inauguration of the Tienditas bridge, scheduled for January 2023.
This new means of communication will further facilitate interaction in the Táchira-Norte de Santander border area, boosting the economy of the area and at the same time avoiding the risks that merchants and common people ran when crossing the border on the trails.
Tanus: The social issue is key
Juan Carlos Tanus, director of the Association of Colombians and Colombians in Venezuela, described as positive the progress that has been made during the first 100 days of Gustavo Petro’s government, in terms of strengthening ties with our country, at the political level. , diplomatic, and commercial.
Tanus cited as a reference the beginning of the route for the consular opening as a key element, in addition to the permission granted by Colombia so that Venezuelans can enter that territory only with their identity card.
He also announced that, in order to strengthen the migration process, a meeting of migrant organizations from both countries has been planned for the month of December.
