Colombia, Venezuela to reconcile against stealthy infiltration

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Xinhua

Colombia, Venezuela to reconcile against stealthy infiltration
18:58, August 12, 2010

After a 19-day suspension of diplomatic ties, Venezuela and Colombia announced the resumption of diplomatic relations Tuesday, and Colombia and other South American nations have also begun to enter a period for adjustment of their relations. The restoration of diplomatic ties between Colombia and Venezuela would not only benefit the people of both nations, noted media comments, but is also an objective choice to avert the infiltration of exterior forces into the region.

Colombia's President Juan Manuel Santos held talks with his Venezuelan counterpart Hugo Chavez, in their first meeting since Santos took office, in Santa Marta, a historical Colombian city on the Caribbean coast on August 10, Santos and Chavez reached an agreement on Tuesday to restore diplomatic relations between the two countries during their talks.

Colombia and Venezuela had belonged to Great Colombia Federal Republic in history, and the current summit also shows that they are inextricably linked to their historical and cultural ties.

Upon his arrival in Colombia, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, holding fresh flows in hand, wore casual attire with the national flag color as its foundation color as an implication that both nations are of the same clan. The two presidents selected the manor of the Latin American Independence Movement Herald Liberator, Simon Bolivar, as their meeting site, and this is meaningful and thought-provoking. In early 19th century, the wise leadership of Bolivar was attributable to the liberation Venezuela, Colombia and other nations in the region.

Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos and his Venezuelan counterpart Hugo Chavez reportedly had held the wide-ranging talks, which include a deal Colombia has signed to give the U.S. military access to seven Colombian bases with the aim to combat drug trafficking and rebels, which resulted in the rapture of bilateral ties due to the ensuing activities of Colombian guerrillas in Colombia's border regions, the maintenance of the unity of South American nations, peace in the region and bilateral trade expansion.

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