Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro made the claim that paramilitaries in Colombia had attacked his own military due to an anti-smuggling operation.
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Venezuela and Colombia agreed on Monday to restore their respective ambassadors following a diplomatic spat sparked by Venezuela’s closure of the border between the two countries and the deportation of hundreds of Colombians.
Afterwards, Maduro said: “Common sense prevailed”.
The two sides have also reportedly agreed to conduct an investigation into the situation on the border and hold meetings at the ministerial level for the settlement of existing border disputes.
Mr Maduro says up to 40% of Venezuelan goods are smuggled out of the country.
On Saturday, the Venezuelan leader was on hand for the launch of the Bolivarian Movement of Colombians for Peace, which looks to organize the 5.6 million Colombians living in Venezuela around Caracas’ demand for the Colombia government to make legislative changes before the borders can be reopened.
The talks will be facilitated by Uruguayan President Tabare Vazquez, who touched down in the Andean city earlier Monday, and Ecuadorean President Rafael Correa.
20,000 more people had fled the country out of fear of being expelled, according to AFP.
Santos, who successfully restored relations with Venezuela after his predecessor threatened war with Venezuela’s late President Hugo Chavez, had thrown off his habitual restraint and said Maduro’s socialist revolution was self-destructing and using tactics employed by Nazi shock troops.
Venezuela later recalled its ambassador from Bogota.
The Colombian leader added: “I agree that criminal organizations working in the border area is a big problem, but the best way to deal with it is by working together”.
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The allegations, and their dismissal as a Colombian fabrication by Venezuelan Foreign Minister Delcy Rodriguez, further ratcheted tensions between the two countries. Until the crackdown, gangs regularly bribed Venezuelan security forces to let them cross the border with gasoline, food and other staples purchased at low government-controlled prices in Venezuela and sold for huge profits in Colombia.
