Colombian, Venezuelan Legislators Met On Normalising Ties

CARACAS, Oct 23 (NNN-ABN) – Legislative delegations from Venezuela’s National Assembly and Colombia’s Congress met on Friday, to set up working commissions for normalising bilateral ties, said Venezuelan lawmaker, Jorge Rodriguez.

Speaking from the Simon Bolivar International Bridge that links the two countries across their shared border, the president of Venezuela’s National Assembly, described it as “a historic meeting after so many years of difficulties.”

The commissions will address “the common agenda on the border” and promote the new bilateral relations policies agreed to by the leaders of the two countries, he said.

Among the issues the commissions will address are trade, transportation and security, and the need to fully reopen border crossings as soon as possible, said Rodriguez.

Colombian Senator, Gloria Florez, president of the Colombian Senate’s Second Commission, said, the two sides have “a deep commitment to the full reestablishment of diplomatic relations,” following years of severed ties.

State-owned Venezolana de Television reported that, 36 Colombian and 32 Venezuelan lawmakers participated in the meeting.