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Colombia - Venezuela

Colombia and Venezuela restore diplomatic ties

South American neighbours Colombia and Venezuela have re-established diplomatic relations after a row last month in which Colombia accused Venezuela of harbouring left-wing rebels.

Reuters
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A summit Tuesday between the countries’ two leaders in the Colombian city of Santa Marta appears to have ironed out many of the bitter disagreements that have divided the two in recent years.

After conceding their differences, conservative Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos, in office for a mere three days, and leftist Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez agreed to relaunch bilateral relations.

Santos said he received assurances from Chavez that the Venezuelan leader would not allow guerrilla groups to set up camp inside his borders.

Ties were severed for 19 days over charges by former Colombian president Alvaro Uribe that Venezuela was harbouring 1,500 guerrillas from the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc) and National Liberation Army (ELN).

After the summit, Chavez said he came to "turn the page" on relations with Bogota, and said unequivocally that he does not support Colombian guerrillas.

Chavez also said that Colombia has "sovereignty" when it comes to a controversial military agreement with the United States that gives the US military access to seven Colombian military bases.

The deal was intended to boost anti-drug trafficking efforts but prompted a furious reaction from Caracas, which froze ties with Bogota in July 2009 over the deal.

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