Maduro builds a future of peace with Colombia.
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro defended respectful diplomatic relations with Colombia, after the neighboring country's leader, Juan Manuel Santos, stated he would not participate in actions to destabilize Venezuela.
Leandra Felipe*
Correspondent for Agência Brasil/EBC
Bogotá - Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro announced last night (31) that his government is reassessing relations with Colombia, based on “mutual respect”. The statements were made in response to the Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos says he will not participate in actions to destabilize Venezuela..
“We are evaluating how to configure relations [with Colombia], based on respect for the internal life of each country,” said the Venezuelan president. According to him, Foreign Minister Elías Jaua received “clear instructions” for the task, based on truth and mutual respect.
Three days ago, relations between Venezuela and Colombia became strained after the Colombian president received the Venezuelan opposition leader and governor of the state of Miranda, Henrique Capriles. Maduro accused Colombia of interference and said that the country's government was participating in a "plan to destabilize the Venezuelan government."
In tonight's statements, Maduro was more moderate, unlike yesterday (30) when he said that He had lost confidence in Colombia.Even so, he asked Santos to respect his model of government and declared that the Colombian government "is harboring a power that is openly conspiring against Venezuela."
“You [Santos] respect the Venezuelan model and I respect the Colombian model,” he said. “We want good, very good relations with our neighboring country,” he added.