The Venezuelan Foreign Ministry announced Sunday that the nation has reestablished diplomatic relations with Colombia and will send its diplomatic staff back to the Colombian capital Bogota immediately.

Venezuela withdrew its embassy staff from Colombia and expelled Colombian diplomats in the country on last Sunday in support of Ecuador after the Colombian military trespassed Ecuadoran territory in a cross-border raid against the rebels of Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC).

The ministry said it is reopening its embassy in Bogota and is willing to receive Colombia diplomats to the Venezuelan capital Caracas.

A statement from the ministry said the Venezuelan government was pleased to see a victory for peace and sovereignty at a Friday meeting in the Dominican Republic's capital Santo Domingo, where the presidents of Colombia, Ecuador and Venezuela shook hands and agreed to end the three-nation dispute.

(Xinhua News Agency March 10, 2008)