Chávez, Santos "committed to not allowing anyone derail" their relation

[ChangoLoa]

Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez's statement months ago that if Juan Manuel Santos was elected as Colombian president it would be impossible to resume relations with the neighbor country appears to be forgotten.

This was the impression after the speeches delivered by the two heads of State following their meeting in Miraflores Palace, the official seat of the Executive branch of government in Venezuela. The meeting was characterized by comradeship between the two presidents. They inked a number of agreements that marked the resumption of relations after their first rapprochement, which took place in the northern Colombian city of Santa Marta on August 10.

"We are both absolutely committed to not allowing anyone derail us," said Santos said. "Nobody can derail us," replied Chávez, who also noted that "regardless of political differences and different approaches," of their governments, both countries have been "called to become united."

In the Miraflores Declaration, the two governments agreed to promote Colombian exports to Venezuela, and resume shipping of Venezuelan oil to Colombia's border regions. Further, they scheduled a summit of counter-narcotics officials for November 19. Venezuela also authorized the payment of USD 336 million owed to Colombian export companies. Such debt is estimated at USD 800 million, according to Bogotá calculations.

Read more:
http://english.eluniversal.com/2010/11/03/en_pol_esp_chavez,-santos-comm_03A4688171.shtml