Venezuela willing to extend diplomacy with Colombia

By Beyza Binnur Donmez

ANKARA (AA) - Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro said he is willing to restore diplomatic ties with Colombia after relations halted between the neighbors a year ago.

"I reaffirm my willingness to restore consular relations with the Colombian government so that we have fluid and respectful communications, despite our differences," Maduro tweeted Wednesday.

"I call to leave behind ideological and political extremisms," he said, "Enough of So Much Foolishness!"

Maduro’s olive branch came a day after Bogota’s request for the extradition of fugitive lawmaker Aida Merlano from opposition leader Juan Guaido.

Following the request, Maduro said he was amused Colombia’s President Ivan Duque asked Guaido for Merlano’s extradition.

"I laughed hard today. I am going to try to say this without laughing, because Ivan Duque’s government said it was going to ask Juan Guaido for this person’s extradition," Maduro said. "It is truly ridiculous.”

In response, Duque blamed Maduro, saying he was the one who broke relations between the two countries.

"We must remember that it was Nicolas Maduro who broke diplomatic and political relations with Colombia in February last year and ordered the expulsion of Colombian diplomats, including consular personnel," Duque said.

Maduro government cut ties with Colombia after Duque recognized Guaido as the legitimate ruler of Venezuela, following a step by the U.S., many Latin American countries and the EU.

Since the beginning of 2019, Venezuela has been embroiled in political unrest as Maduro and Guaido engage in a power battle, while the country's economy has been in precipitous decline following a global downturn in the price of crude oil.