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Colombian president accepts Uruguay mediation on border crisis

Xinhua, September 8, 2015 Adjust font size:

Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos said Monday he would accept Uruguay's mediation to help overcome the diplomatic difficulties with Venezuela on the border crisis, and said he was willing to talk directly to the Venezuelan president.

Santos made the statement shortly after a state council meeting, at which he reiterated his willingness for a face-to-face talk with Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, possibly in the Uruguayan capital of Montevideo, after diplomatic means have not yet solved the ongoing border crisis.

"I'm ready for dialogue, but only if the human rights of our countrymen are never going to be violated again," Santos said, highlighting the humanitarian situation caused by the border closures ordered by Maduro.

Even though Santos confirmed he had talked with Uruguayan President Tabare Vasquez on the phone Monday and accepted his goodwill for a peaceful mediation, no date has yet been discussed or set for a direct dialogue with Maduro. The dialogue is not expected to take place promptly.

Santos took the opportunity to announce more economic measures taken by the central government to support and activate local economies in the border region departments, seeking to address the humanitarian needs of the 13,962 Colombians who have returned from Venezuela, including 1,442 deportees, and residence permits for those Venezuelans who are their family members.

The Colombian government has offered benefits to companies located on the Venezuelan side of the border as incentives for them to consider relocating to the Colombian side, including tax reductions and flexible requirements, among others.

The border conflict started in late August when Maduro ordered to partially close the border crossings to Colombia, and started massive deportations of Colombian residents in the country.

The United Nations office in Colombia has called on both nations to resolve their differences as soon as possible in order to prevent a larger humanitarian crisis in the region. Endi