AlHijjah 07, 1436, September 21, 2015, SPA -- Presidents Juan Manuel Santos of Colombia and Nicolas Maduro of Venezuela met Monday in Quito to try to find a way out of the ongoing border crisis between the South American neighbours, according to dpa. Maduro arrived first at Carondelet Palace, the Ecuadorian presidential palace, and he was followed by Santos. The two men were welcome by Uruguayan President Tabare Vazquez, as current president of the Union of South American Nations (Unasur), and by the host, Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa. The meeting was expected to last several hours. Maduro said on arrival that he had "the highest expectations" for the gathering. "I come here with concrete proposals, I come with Venezuela's truth," he said. He warned, however, that he would make no concessions regarding Venezuela's security. Santos made no comments in Quito. Earlier, however, he had said on Twitter that he would seek to enforce respect for the rights of Colombian citizens living in Venezuela, and for Colombian sovereignty. "Colombia is not to blame for Venezuela's problems, and the problems we have on the border require cooperation from both countries," Santos said. Colombia has denounced forced displacements, torture and sexual abuse by Venezuelan forces against Colombian citizens within Venezuela. Tensions increased after three Venezuelan soldiers were injured in a border clash on August 19 that Maduro blamed on a right-wing Colombian paramilitary group, prompting him to close the border. Thousands of Colombians have crossed the border back into Colombia, including hundreds who were expelled by Venezuelan authorities, the Colombian government said. Smuggling of subsidized foodstuffs and petrol is rife in the area. Venezuela is immersed in a severe economic crisis complete with rampant inflation and shortages of food and everyday items that lead to long lines in stores. It accuses Colombia of waging economic war on it.
