Venezuela, Colombia agree to restore envoys after diplomatic rowSeptember 22, 2015 - 10:32 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Venezuela and Colombia agreed on Monday, September 22 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, according to Reuters. The two Andean nations had expelled each other's envoys amid a campaign in August by Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro to crack down on smuggling of subsidized fuel and food that angered Colombia's government. Maduro met with Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos in Ecuador to defuse tensions, with the two sides agreeing to "progressively normalize the border" and to hold ministerial meetings in Caracas about the border situation on Wednesday. "The two heads of state committed to building an agreement, oriented toward fraternal coexistence, that will resolve the problems of the shared border," said a joint statement read out by Ecuadorean President Rafael Correa. Venezuela's price controls and heavy subsidies create opportunities for smugglers to buy anything from corn flour to toothpaste and resell the goods across the border at an enormous profit. Maduro shuttered the border after an attack on troops by alleged paramilitary groups. Authorities deported some 1,400 Colombians who authorities said were linked to paramilitaries or were in the country illegally. Some were forced to leave homes in Venezuelan border towns and cross rivers with their belongings on their backs. Tensions rose further in recent weeks as Colombia said Venezuelan aircraft had violated its airspace and that Venezuelan troops had crossed the border and burned a motorcycle. The sparsely populated 2,219 km (1,378 miles) border has frequently been a source of tensions between the two countries and was often at the center of diplomatic spats between late Venezuelan socialist leader Hugo Chavez and former Colombian President Alvaro Uribe. Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Partner news | Titus, Bilirakis lead legislation to sanction Azerbaijani war criminals Representatives Dina Titus (D-NV) and Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) have introduced the bipartisan legislation. Armenia: Defense Ministry warns against involving army in political processes The Ministry’s statement came after a video surfaced online, showing soldiers joining the protests in Tavush. Scholz hopes Armenia-Azerbaijan peace treaty will be signed this year German Chancellor Olaf Scholz hopes that a peace treaty between Armenia and Azerbaijan will be signed this year. Ucom equips four bus stops in Ijevan with free Wi-Fi Ucom now provides free Wi-Fi coverage in smart bus stops in four communities of Ijevan. |