WILLEMSTAD - The border with Venezuela could open this year. This was announced by Prime Minister Gilmar Pisas to the media. He is responding to official communication from the government of Venezuela.  

In a 'comunicado' Venezuela informs that together with the Netherlands they are working towards the 'gradual reopening' of the border with the Caribbean islands.  

The Netherlands is busy behind the scenes but does not want to say much to the outside world. Minister Wopke Hoekstra of Foreign Affairs said during his visit to Curaçao that the talks in no way constitute an acknowledgment of the country's election results in 2021.  

The sea and air borders with the islands of Aruba, Curaçao, and Bonaire closed in February 2019, following a unilateral decision by Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.