The foreign ministers of Colombia, Álvaro Leyva, and Venezuela, Yván Gil, established the commission for good neighborliness and integration between the two countries this Friday, international media reported.
Both officials described what happened as a “historic day”, not only because it marked another step in restoring ties between the two countries, but also because it was the first visit by a Venezuelan foreign minister in more than five years, EFE news agency reports .
In this way, the two nations will try to promote cooperation and common development in the border areas after resuming their political, diplomatic, commercial and economic ties last August with the inauguration of Gustavo Petro as president.
“What should be prevented by the irrational severing of relations could never separate the two peoples,” Gil said after the official inauguration ceremony at San Carlos Palace, home of Colombia’s foreign ministry.
The Venezuelan foreign minister explained that once the commission is set up, it will work on issues such as “infrastructure, communications, migration, social, environmental and energy issues,” among others.
Leyva, who has visited Caracas several times over the past year, said that with this step forward they will be able to “return to good neighborliness and integration” and “put behind the mistake” of cutting ties between neighbors.
The Venezuelan government is “very calm and happy to be able to move forward with various plans to increase business and trade exchanges,” Gil said.
This Friday, the diplomat said, they also signed a statement stating: “Venezuela will provide the necessary cooperation and support for the work and investigation into the alleged disappearances at the border, which we know is an important one Chapter is that must be solved.” with the “As soon as possible”.
It is the first time a senior Venezuelan government official has visited Colombia since diplomatic relations resumed. On May 30, both foreign ministers signed an agreement in Brasilia to set up the “Neighborhood and Integration Commission”.
With this instrument, the two countries agree to study issues of common interest in order to form “binational technical committees” to take care of the needs of the border area.
EFE / OnCuba