Colombia and Venezuela Agree to Try Diplomacy

Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos (R) shakes hands with his Venezuelan counterpart Hugo Chavez during a joint press conference announcing that their countries resumed diplomatic relations at the Quinta de San Pedro Alejandrino in Santa Marta, Magdalena department, Colombia on August 10. (Rodrigo Arangua/Getty Images )

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After nearly a month of strained relations in which both Colombia and Venezuela recalled their ambassadors, the countries’ presidents agreed to restore diplomatic ties at a meeting in the Colombian port city of Santa Marta on Aug. 10.

“The results of these conversations were very positive,” said Columbian President Juan Manuel Santos in a televised address broadcast by Colombia’s City TV. Santos was sworn in on Aug. 7.

The countries will form five bilateral commissions focusing on the issues of border security, social policy and border zones, economic agreements, rebuilding trade relations, and joint infrastructure according to Colombia Reports news source.

The diplomatic feud erupted last month during a meeting of the Organization of American States when Colombia alleged that Venezuela is harboring militant rebels from FARC (Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia) and ELN (National Liberation Army) within its borders.

Former Colombian President Álvaro Uribe, whose administration accused Venezuela of harboring terrorists, will take up a teaching post at Washington D.C.’s Georgetown University in September. Uribe is currently serving as vice chairman of the U.N. panel investigating Israel’s capture of the Gaza flotilla that left nine dead on May 31.

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