The ambassador of Juan Guaidó in Brazil declared that the closing of the border was a "business" for Nicolás Maduro

The closure of the border decreed two months ago by the regime of Nicolás Maduro is a "business"said Wednesday María Teresa Belandria, appointed Venezuelan ambbadador to Brazil by the president of the National Assembly (Parliament), Juan Guaidó.

"This is a case for Maduro's diet", whose officials on the border with Brazil"they charge"Allow the pbadage of goods and people between the two countries," said Belandria at a press conference in Brasilia.

The diplomat went to the state of Roraima, in the north of Brazil, on the border with Venezuela, and said she checked that the borders were actually closed. "very convenient"for the officials of"Maduro Dietwho made it a business.

"Whoever pays crosses"explained Belandria, who said that, according to information received in Roraima, there are days happening from Brazil to Venezuela"up to about 50 trucks"with food and other products, whose drivers are subject to a"toll"by officials of the National Guard and other Venezuelan organizations.

Border closures have been in effect since last February, when both Colombia and Brazil Guaidó's supporters tried to enter Venezuela with tons of humanitarian aid which was rejected by the Maduro regime.

Despite this blockade, Belandria explained that about 400 Venezuelans continue to arrive in Brazil every day, where it is estimated that in the last two years Some 70,000 people have been installed who fled the crisis in which the neighboring country sank.

The diplomat welcomed the reception operation organized by the Government of Brazil, in collaboration with United Nations agencies and civil society, in the border region.

This operation, which began last year under the administration of the former president Michel Temerhas been strengthened since 1 January, when he took power Jair Bolsonaro, whose government is one of almost 50 countries in the world to recognize President Guaidó "legitimate and provisional"from Venezuela after the opposition leader declared it as such in January.

In addition to welcoming Venezuelans, this operation also helps to integrate them into the job market and promote their integration into Brazilian society, even with job offers in other parts of the country, in which some 7,500 people have already been relocated.

According to Belandria, the call "Operation Welcome"is"A model"for other Latin American countries that have also hosted thousands of Venezuelans in the past two years, a period during which the country's political, social and economic crisis has worsened .

The diplomat explained that she would present the Brazilian experience at a meeting that will take place next Saturday will hold in Bogota all ambbadadors appointed by Guaidó since January 23, he badumed the presidency of the country when the National Assembly ignored the new mandate of Nicolás Maduro.

At this meeting, according to Belandria, it will be done "a balance of the first 90 days of President Guaidó's administration"and they will be discussed"new pressure measurements"against Maduro, as well as coordination"international strategy"from your ambbadadors.

(With information from EFE)