“Come back that communication and that brotherhood that has characterized both countries throughout history.”
That is the cry of Biviana Gomeza native of Medellín and with 12 years established in Caracas. It is also that of millions of Colombians residing in Venezuela. For more than three years, diplomatic relations have been broken and, as a consequence, the consulates have been closed.
A limbo that has caused great difficulties, as pointed out by Light Alvaradoborn in the department of Bolivar, from where he emigrated 32 years ago. “We, as Colombians who are here in Venezuela, need our consulate to open for us because there are known people, family members who need to do errands and do not have to leave until Cucuta to take a trip there to do an errand,” he said.
One of the consular procedures, precisely, is the vote. Near 185 thousand Colombians in Venezuelan territory they are registered to exercise it, but they must go to the six centers arranged at the border crossings. A complicated displacement for the majority, as was demonstrated in the first round, when only a few participated 3 thousand voters.
Hopes are pinned on the presidential elections, since the two candidates who face each other in the second round: Gustavo Petro and Rodolfo Hernandez They have spoken out in favor of resuming diplomatic ties. In Venezuela, Nicolas Madurohas also expressed its willingness. “Whoever wins the presidency in Colombia, we want peace and cooperation with Colombia and we will achieve it”, affirmed the president.
the opposition leader Juan Guaidohowever, issues a warning: “to recognize Maduro is to recognize the dissidence of the FARC, ELN, to terrorism, to drug trafficking.”
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Aside from the political debate, businessmen and residents on both sides of the border expect its prompt reopening to recover an exchange that became one of the most dynamic on the continent.
“We have a moderate positive expectation, thinking that it will improve trade, trade relations and binational integration,” he says. Luis Alberto Russián, president of the Colombian-Venezuelan Chamber, Cavecol.
The truth is that both Colombians and Venezuelans await rapprochement to improve communication and coordination in the face of reconomic, immigration and border security ethos that these countries must deal with.
