Barlatino satisfied with the opening of the border between Venezuela and Colombia

The group’s president, Angel Rodriguez, told the press that this step would bring prosperity and productivity to both countries, acknowledging the readiness shown by the governments of Nicolás Maduro and Gustavo Petro to restore the good historical relations between the two brotherly countries.

In the document, obtained by Prensa Latina, the legislator expressed confidence that with the opening of the border between Venezuela and Colombia “the productive apparatus and, accordingly, the economy and employment will be reactivated.”

Rodriguez highlighted the full will of the executive branch of Venezuela to work towards a renewed phase of comprehensive relations with Colombia.

“We are confident that the government of President Gustavo Petro, like Venezuela, will make every effort to maintain friendly relations in a framework of respect and solidarity,” he stressed.

The parliamentarian condemned the suspension of relations between the two countries in the past three years due to the “political war” promoted by former Colombian President Ivan Duque (2018-2022).

The closure of the 2,219-kilometer border in 2019 greatly affected the economy, social and family coexistence between the two countries, with a common history dating back to the 18th century.

Yesterday, the civil and military authorities of both countries officially left the border crossing separating Cúcuta, Norte de Santander and San Antonio in the state of Tachira via the Simon Bolivar International Bridge, which is also an effective crossing in Zulia and Apure regions.

Venezuela’s Minister of Transport, Ramon Velasquez, has expressed his country’s authorities’ satisfaction with the opening of the border and hoped that they never intend to close it again.

At a press conference, the minister conveyed a message from Colombian President Gustavo Petro to his counterpart Nicolas Maduro full of brotherhood and love and the strengthening of bilateral relations.

He stressed that it was a historic day and expressed that editor Simon Bolivar and “immortal leader” Hugo Chavez (1954-2013) would be full of joy when the borders were opened, seven years after they were closed.

Venezuela and Colombia severed relations in February 2019 as a result of the actions of self-proclaimed President Juan Guaido intent on violating the legitimacy of the constitutional government of the Bolivarian Republic, with the support of the United States and the state of New Granada.

Bi-national relations were not restored until last August 29 with the delivery of letters of credit to President Maduro, by the Colombian ambassador appointed here, Armando Benedetti, a procedure he repeated on September 7 before Petro, Felix Placencia.

jha / jcd