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We’ve had sincere and open dialogue and I think we’ve taken a big step in re-establishing trust: New Colombian President.

August 13, 2010 (Hamsayeh.Net) - Venezuela and Colombia have decided to begin a new chapter in bilateral relations after a successful meeting between vastly popular President Hugo Chavez and his newly elected Colombian counterpart Jose Manuel Santos in the Colombian city of Santa Marta, yesterday. 

Relations between the two Latin neighbors had turned sour recently following unjustified accusations by the US-backed former Colombian president and point man Alvaro Uribe against Venezuela. The former Colombian president, a puppet technocrat affiliated to Washington, forced Colombia serve as United States’ last garrison in the region, always playing a different tune contrary to what’s referred to as a Bolivarian rebirth amongst Latin nations, on behalf of the US imperialism.  

But with the coming into power of Jose Manuel Santos a historic opportunity exist for progressive countries in the region to build further cooperation that target development for countries in the region. Across borders between Colombia and Venezuela, people cheered this historic meeting with hopes of further social progress ahead.

Only two weeks ago, oil-rich Venezuela decided to severe ties with Uribe-ran government in Colombia. Since then Colombian businesses have suffered enormous slumps due to freeze in bilateral trades. Venezuela is Colombia’s largest trade partner and many businesses depend on exports to Venezuela.  

After meeting with Hugo Chavez, Colombia’s newly sworn President Santos told reporters, ‘We’ve had sincere and open dialogue and I think we’ve taken a big step in re-establishing trust.’ He added, ‘…we’re not going to use any situation that came up in the past to build or destroy our relations in the future. We’re starting from zero, relaunching our relations in a frank and sincere environment, so that any doubt can be put on the table,” he said. 

In turn, Hugo Chavez thanked Santo for his invitation to Santa Maria, but also reminded that a similar invitation following Uribe’s inauguration that was initially seen as positive changed course not long afterwards. ‘We have to take care of what we have established today, ‘and restore trust and respect’, Chavez said. He also said that both presidents had promised to erase the word ‘war’ from their discourse and added that he felt like he was in his own country in Colombia, ‘with all respect, I feel for Colombians.'

Chavez and Santos shake hands during yesterday's meeting in Santa Maria - Colombia

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