Colombia, Venezuela to normalize relations amid border crisis

QUITO, Ecuador, Sept. 22 (UPI) -- Venezuela and Colombia announced an agreement Monday to normalize relations following a escalated dispute of their shared border.

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos met with mediators President of Uruguay Tabare Vazquez and President of Ecuador Rafael Correa in Quito for the diplomatic discussions.

"Common sense, dialogue and peace between our peoples and our countries have triumphed today," Maduro said after the talks.

Santos said he ordered his ministers to "work immediately to address sensitive issues."

"Solving problems in border requires joint action," Santos said, previously adding that "Colombia is not guilty of the problems of Venezuela."

The government officials will meet again Wednesday in Caracas to work on the details of the "normalization plan." Venezuela's ambassador will return to Bogota and Colombia's ambassador will return to Caracas immediately after both were recalled due to the dispute.

Maduro progressively ordered the closure of Venezuela's border with Colombia after three Venezuelan soldiers and a civilian were injured in an attack by suspected smugglers in the border town of San Antonia del Tachira.

Maduro then began a crackdown on suspected smugglers in the region and declared states of emergency in several municipalities. More than 1,500 Colombians living illegally in Venezuela were deported and about 20,000 Colombians were estimated to have left in fear of deportation.