Venezuela opposition leader Guaido in "informal" meetings with Colombia's govt

13/8/2022 7:08

        Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido has held "informal meetings" with members of newly elected Colombian President Gustavo Petro's government, he said on Friday.
        
        In a quest to normalize bilateral relations, Petro and his Venezuelan counterpart Nicolas Maduro each appointed an ambassador to the other's country this week.
        
        Caracas broke relations with Bogota in 2019 after Venezuelan opposition activists tried to enter the country from Colombia with trucks of food and medicinal aid. Maduro's government said it was a masked attempted coup supported by Washington.
        
        "So far we have not had (anything) beyond informal meetings," Guaido said at a press conference, adding that "formal mechanisms" would be sought to open up Colombian exports to Venezuela.
        
        Guaido confirmed the opposition was ready to return to negotiations with Venezuela's government, a process started in Mexico in August 2021 but suspended by ruling-party delegates in October.