Álvaro Leyva, the foreign minister appointed by the elected president of Colombia Gustavo Petro, read a statement in Táchira where he announced that from the beginning of the new government the respective ambassadors in both countries and other diplomatic officials will be restored, as well as the consular services, suspended since 2019. Maduro specified, hours later, that both officials reviewed an agenda with 14 topics, “peace and security plans for the border, progressive economic and commercial opening and union plans”
The Venezuelan Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carlos Faría, received the designated Foreign Minister of Colombia, Álvaro Leyva, in San Cristóbal, capital of the state of Táchira this Thursday, July 28.
Both representatives, according to a statement read by Leyva, “expressed their willingness to advance in a work agenda for the gradual normalization of binational relations starting next August 7 with the appointment of ambassadors and other diplomatic and consular officials,” he quoted the AFP agency
Leyva, a conservative with a long history in negotiations in armed conflicts, will officially take office with the inauguration of Petro, in 10 days.
Apart from the statements of the Minister (D) in front of the meeting today with the Governor of Táchira @FreddyBernal and the Foreign Minister of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela @Fariacrt
Thanks to @teleSURtv where the posted snippet was taken from. pic.twitter.com/Baib10P9JA– Álvaro Leyva Durán (@AlvaroLeyva) July 28, 2022
In a statement to the press, Faría reiterated that once Petro takes office, they will proceed “immediately” to “establish the ambassadors” and “all the teams that must be working in the different consulates.”
Petro announced since he was campaigning that he would restore relations with Venezuela, broken since 2019 when the government of outgoing president Iván Duque ignored the re-election of Nicolás Maduro and supported the proclamation of the opposition Juan Guaidó as interim president.
“We have talked, agreed and have agreed that we have to work for peace and for the security of our borders, we are talking about the gradual opening of the border, an aspect that will directly benefit our peoples. », Faria pointed out.
Leyva also held a meeting with the governor of Táchira state, Freddy Bernal (PSUV), at the Palacio de los Leones, seat of the government in San Cristóbal.
Maduro: “Venezuela and Colombia are Siamese sisters”
Hours later, at the close of the commemorative act for the 68th anniversary of the birth of Hugo Chávez, Nicolás Maduro said that he had received from the foreign minister Carlos Faria Tortosa a detailed report of what was discussed with Leyva that covered “14 topics,” he explained.
“Peace and security plans for the entire border, progressive economic and commercial opening, of the union plans,” the president listed.
In his brief harangue, Maduro said that great opportunities are opening up for the western border. He mentioned the Venezuelan Defense Minister, General in Chief Vladimir Padrino López, and instructed him: “Colombia and Venezuela have to be united behind a single ideal: peace, collaboration, integration.”
After fulfilling the tradition of “chopping the cake” in memory of Chávez, Maduro greeted his brother Adán Chávez and the youngest daughter of the deceased president, Rosinés Chávez, present at the celebration that took place at the Aquiles Nazoa Cultural House.
#Live ? | Celebration of the 68th anniversary of the birth of Supreme Commander Hugo Chávezhttps://t.co/Ompm9v0yXQ
— Presidential Press (@PresidentialVen) July 28, 2022
With information from RFI
Also read: With Gustavo Petro, Nicolás Maduro won a new ally, but it will not be unconditional
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