Venezuela and Colombia design plan to address violence in the Catatumbo region

Published at: 25/01/2025 10:29 AM

The defense ministers of Venezuela and Colombia, Vladimir Padrino López and Iván Velásquez Gómez, respectively, met this Friday in the city of San Cristóbal, Táchira state, to evaluate the delicate situation in the Catatumbo region, in the neighboring country's Norte de Santander Department, affected by irregular acts of guerrilla groups that have caused the displacement of more than 40,000 people.

This was announced by Minister Padrino López in a statement, in which he reported that “a three-month plan is being designed to help Colombia build and consolidate its peace, based on the successful experiences we have developed in our territory.”

In this regard, he pointed out that “the Venezuelan State, rooted in its pacifist vocation, has only intervened in the armed conflict in Colombia as a mediator, at the request of its own government with the purpose of contributing to the search for solutions to put an end to violence.”

Below is the full text of the statement:

The Bolivarian National Armed Forces informs the Venezuelan people and the international community that yesterday, Friday, January 24, 2017, the Minister of Popular Power for Defense, GJ. Vladímir Padrino López, held a working meeting with the Minister of Defense of the Republic of Colombia, Dr. Iván Velásquez Gómez; in the city of San Cristóbal, Táchira state; in order to discuss the general border situation, and especially the complex problem that has been occurring for several days in the Catatumbo sector, Department of Norte de Santander in the neighboring country, bordering Venezuela.

In the first instance, it is necessary to remember that historically, the Venezuelan State, rooted in its pacifist vocation, has only intervened in the armed conflict in Colombia as a mediator, at the request of its own government with the purpose of contributing to the search for solutions to put an end to violence, encouraging dialogue between the parties, and respecting at all times the principle of self-determination of peoples and the norms of international law.

Within the framework of this philosophy, at the above-mentioned meeting, we reiterated our complete willingness to collaborate, increasing levels of communication and structuring a three-month plan to help Colombia build and consolidate its peace, based on the successful experiences we have developed in our territory.

It is essential to make clear that Venezuela does not serve, nor will it ever serve, as a platform for armed groups outside the law, whatever their nature, ideology or nationality. It is worth noting the enormous efforts made by the Bolivarian Government in the fight against the different forms of criminal organization dedicated to drug trafficking, paramilitarism, illegal mining, smuggling and other transnational crimes.

In this regard, we must point out that we maintain a permanent deployment of military units throughout the national geographical space, including the Colombian-Venezuelan border axis, where we will not allow the action of any type of armed group. On the basis of the above, we categorically reject the disinformation campaign orchestrated by characters with obscure interests, who intend to involve us with one of the factions.

We also want to communicate that, by virtue of the principles of solidarity and fraternity that characterize Bolivarian Peace Diplomacy, we continue to provide humanitarian assistance to Colombian citizens, affected by the excesses of the clashes in the Catatumbo region, who have been forced to move to Venezuelan territory.

Finally, on instructions from citizen Nicolás Maduro Moros, Constitutional President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, our Commander in Chief, we will keep in constant communication with the Colombian authorities, ready to meet any requirement that may contribute to the solution of the problem, ratifying the irreducible commitment to peace of our sister Colombia.

Caracas, January 25, 2025

Vladímir Padrino López

General in Chief

Mazo News Team