Venezuela reinforces border troops amid row with Colombia
0 
Meanwhile, Venezuelan Ambassador to the United Nations Valero on Monday voiced hopes for a peaceful end to the tensions between the two countries.
"We hope that the new government of Mr. (Juan Manuel) Santos would change their world policy and join the Venezuelan government to find out a peaceful solution," he said.
Santos was elected president of Colombia on June 21 and was due to take office on Aug. 7.
Analysts have said Venezuela was leaving the door open for the incoming Colombian president to mend bilateral relations.
Santos has so far made no comment on the rows between the Venezuelan president and outgoing Colombian President Alvaro Uribe.
Nevertheless, the incoming finance minister has said one of the new government's priorities will be to re-establish trade. Colombian Vice President-elect Angelino Garzon also said earlier the new Colombian government would seek "all diplomatic means" to normalize ties with Venezuela.
Trade between Venezuela and Colombia has suffered after relations between the two countries turned sour since last year, when bilateral trade grew to 8 billion U.S. dollars from 1.5 billion dollars in 2002.
Colombian Mining and Energy Minister Hernan Martinez said on Monday it will not stop gas supply to Venezuela.
The Colombian government announced on Monday it will launch a "shock" plan to mitigate the economic impacts of the diplomatic crisis in the border region.
U.S. State Department spokesman Phillip Crowley said on Monday that the United States has "no intention of engaging a military action against Venezuela," calling on Venezuela to "engage directly."
Cuba has said it backed Venezuela's rights of self-defense in case of a war.
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and leaders in the region have been trying to mediate the crisis between the two countries, with Bolivian President Evo Morales calling on Saturday for an emergency meeting of South American presidents to resolve a stand-off.
Go to Forum >>0 Comments