Gustavo Petro will meet with Nicolás Maduro on November 1

The presidents of Colombia, Gustavo Petroand from Venezuela, Nicholas Madurowill meet on Tuesday in Caracas to discuss the reopening of the binational border and the return of the oil nation to the Inter-American Human Rights system, the Government of Bogotá reported on Monday.

It will be the first meeting of the two leaders since Bogota and Caracas They reestablished diplomatic relations and reopened their 1,400-mile border after Petro was sworn in in August as the first leftist president in Colombia’s history.

The issues to be discussed at the meeting of the leaders will be the bilateral relationship between the two countries, the reopening of borders and the re-entry of Venezuela to the inter-American human rights system,” said the Colombian Presidency.

“The meeting is part of President Gustavo Petro’s leadership to boost the region’s economy and socialize his agenda in favor of the interests of the Latin American bloc and the protection of the Amazon, and as part of the preliminary meetings for COP27,” he added.

Venezuela and Colombia reopened their borders to cargo transport at the end of September in an effort to normalize the passage of merchandise and the well-being of the inhabitants of the extensive and overwhelmed border area.

Venezuela is a guarantor country in Colombia’s peace talks with the rebels of the National Liberation Army (ELN), whose restart in November was announced in Caracas this month.

Human Rights Watch asked Petro last week to use the reestablishment of diplomatic relations with Venezuela to promote respect for human rights in that country, in addition to facilitating genuine negotiations to restore the rule of law.

Caracas broke off relations with Bogotá at the beginning of 2019, after Venezuelan opponents tried to cross from Colombian territory with trucks loaded with food and medicine, arguing that this aid was masking an attempted coup by the opposition with the support of Washington.

Colombian governments prior to Petro accused Maduro of harboring criminals and rebel groups in Venezuelan territory, accusations that the president has denied.