Page 6 - aruba-today-20220927

A6 WORLD NEWS
Tuesday 27 sepTember 2022

Cargo traffic movement resumes between Colombia, Venezuela

Associated Press been closed.
BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) “Globalization, above all
— Trucks loaded with alu- else, is trade and unity be-
minum and medications tween neighbors,” he told
crossed a bridge linking Co- reporters after the event.
lombia and Venezuela for “Anyone who measures
the first time in seven years the flows of international
Monday following restora- trade, cultural flows, popu-
tion of diplomatic relations, lation flows, will always find
giving regional businesses that the greatest amount
hope for growing trade. is between neighbors and
Colombia’s new leftist Pres- that is how it was before
ident Gustavo Petro, who sectarian madness took
took office in August and over hearts and brains. So,
quickly moved to reestab- it was between Colombia
lish ties with Venezuela’s and Venezuela.”
government, was on hand Venezuela Transportation
as the trucks rolled across Minister Ramón Velásquez
the Simon Bolivar Interna- repeatedly shook Petro’s
tional Bridge between Cu- hand as they stood with a
cuta, Colombia, and San group of officials, including
Antonio, Venezuela. It was the ambassadors of both
once one of the busiest countries, at the bridge’s
crossings between the two Colombia’s President Gustavo Petro, left, and Venezuela’s Transportation Minister Ramon midpoint.
South American nations. Araguayan shake hands on the Simon Bolivar International Bridge during a ceremony to mark its Maduro did not attend the
Residents of border areas reopening, between Cucuta, Colombia and San Antonio del Tachira, Venezuela, Monday, Sept. ceremony at the bridge.
26, 2022.
and business owners in Associated Press He has curtailed his public
both countries expect the appearances in relatively
resumption of cargo traf- border crossings closed were severed the following the commercial exchange uncontrolled spaces since
fic to generate jobs and during what he described year. within a year of a fully re- 2018, when two drones det-
reduce the thriving illegal as a crackdown on smug- Trade between the two opened border could ex- onated explosives near him
commerce. gling. Foot traffic eventual- countries reached $2.4 bil- ceed $4 billion. during a military parade in
“Hopefully, we can reac- ly resumed, and some very lion in 2014 but fell to about The first truck to cross the Caracas, Venezuela’s cap-
tivate the 1,200 direct jobs limited cargo continued to $406 million last year most bridge entered Colombia ital.
that were lost,” said Sandra move through the north- of it Venezuelan imports carrying aluminum rolls Colombia and Venezuela
Guzmán Lizarazo, president ernmost bridge. from Colombia accord- from Venezuela. The next share a border of about
of the Colombian Federa- Relations were already ing to the Chamber of truck moved in the oppo- 1,370 miles (2,200 kilome-
tion of Logistics Agents in strained between Madu- Venezuelan-Colombian site direction, hauling medi- ters). Bandits, drug traffick-
International Trade, which ro’s socialist government Economic Integration. The cines. Each was decorated ers, paramilitary groups and
had to close all but one of and U.S.-allied Colombia. group, based in Venezuela, with flags and honked as guerrillas take advantage
its 15 customs warehouses They were strained further estimates this year’s activ- it entered the neighboring of the remote and deso-
in the Colombian border after Maduro’s 2018 re- ity could exceed $1 billion country. late landscape to operate,
city of Cúcuta when com- election, which Colombia, if the crossings reopen to Petro said the trucks’ move- though that did not deter
mercial traffic was blocked. the U.S. and many other vehicular traffic. ment is a “symbol of unity” legal trade before Maduro
Venezuelan President Nico- nations considered illegiti- The Venezuelan govern- and indicated that the ordered the closure of offi-
las Maduro in 2015 ordered mate. Diplomatic relations ment has estimated that border should never have cial border crossings.q
Suspect detained in Poland in Dutch reporter’s slaying

THE HAGUE, Netherlands the Dutch port city of Rot- shooting. in line with privacy regu- and confidant for a witness
(AP) — Dutch prosecu- terdam at the time of the His identity wasn’t released lations. Dutch authorities in the trial of the alleged
tors said Monday that a have requested his transfer leader and other members
30-year-old man suspect- to the Netherlands. of a crime gang that po-
ed of involvement in the Two men were arrested lice described as an “oiled
slaying of crime reporter near The Hague soon after killing machine.”
Peter R. de Vries has been De Vries were shot and are The witness’ brother and
arrested by authorities in on trial for his murder. Pros- his lawyer both were mur-
Poland. ecutors have sought life dered.The suspected
De Vries, one of the Nether- sentences for both. One gangland leader, Ridouan
lands’ best-known journal- of them is a Polish national, Taghi, was extradited
ists who also campaigned Kamil E., who is the alleged to the Netherlands from
to solve cold cases, was getaway driver. Dubai, United Arab Emir-
gunned down in Amster- Another Polish national ates, in 2019 and is cur-
dam on July 6 last year. He was arrested in July on rently awaiting verdicts in
died nine days later of his suspicion of instructing the his trial.
injuries at age 64. two men who carried out Prosecutors have sought
Prosecutors said the Polish the hit. Two other suspects a life sentence for his al-
man was arrested on sus- Dutch crime reporter Peter R. de Vries looks on, prior to attending were arrested in Spain and leged involvement in a
picion of helping prepare a live TV show in Amsterdam, Netherlands, Thursday Jan. 31, Curacao on the same day. string of murders.
the attack and that he is 2008. Before his shooting, De Vr- He hasn’t been charged in
believed to have lived in Associated Press ies acted as an adviser De Vries’ killing.q