WILLEMSTAD/CARACAS--The border between Venezuela and Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao is soon to reopen. Trade will resume between the South American country and the so-called ABC islands. Smuggling, a huge problem, will be combated.
That announcement came after Dutch Foreign Affairs Minister Stephanus Blok met with the prime ministers of Aruba, Curacao and St. Maarten in Willemstad and his subsequent visit to the Venezuelan capital Caracas on Saturday.
Blok together with Venezuelan Vice Presidents El Aissami and Soteldo signed an agreement on the lifting of the border blockade that Venezuela had raised earlier this year.
This removal must lead to the restoration of all regular traffic between mainly Aruba and Curaçao with Venezuela. The agreement also means that the smuggling activities on these routes are actively prevented by the countries involved.
The border blockade was high on the agenda in Minister Blok's talks with the prime ministers of the Caribbean countries of the Kingdom.
Blok said of the move: “By using our diplomatic network, I was able to unblock the border closure. This is good for the Caribbean region and the relationship with neighboring Venezuela.”
Before leaving the Netherlands, Minister Blok already spoke with his Venezuelan colleague Arreaza. They agreed to quickly find a solution.
In recent days, diplomatic contacts gained momentum. This made it possible to visit Caracas to sign the agreement that the border blockade has to be lifted. In his conversation with Venezuelan authorities, Minister Blok also discussed the current situation in Venezuela.
Prior to heading to Venezuela, Blok met with Prime Ministers Evelyn Wever-Croes (Aruba), Eugene Rhuggenaath (Curacao) and Leona Romeo-Marlin (St. Maarten) for consultations on foreign affairs with specific emphasis on the situation in Venezuela.
The challenges facing Small Island Developing States (SIDS), realizing Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), regional cooperation and the ties related to Overseas Countries and Territories (OCT), the European Union and Africa, Caribbean and Pacific states (ACP) were also at the forefront.
Rhuggenaath tweeted after the meeting: “Let’s keep the positive vibe going!”
