Caracas, September 12 (teleSUR-RHC)-- Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro led a preliminary consulting seminar Friday for a “New Border of Peace” in Caracas. 

The preliminary working sessions are intended to include proposals from the residents of municipalities of the border region, which are now in a state of exception.    

Maduro said the seminar looks for ideas "that will lead us to coherent responses relevant to the reality that allow us to influence the Venezuelan border and build a true border of peace."

The proposals of the people will be taken to Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos when they meet, Maduro added.  

The preliminary consulting sessions are intended for the newly-created “New Frontier Peace Mission” aimed to ensure greater security along the Colombian-Venezuelan border, according to Maduro.        

Among the proposals made by border residents are the regularization of oil prices, airwaves for television access, housing centers to settle in indigenous people, and more employment opportunities.

Maduro added he has called on the country’s ministers to persecute paramilitaries and criminals who are involved in contraband smuggling at the border.    
      
The head of state expressed disappointment over Colombia’s failure to address alleged paramilitary and smuggling operations taking place in the border region between the two countries.        

Despite this, the president reiterated his commitment to solving the border crisis, saying Venezuela gives “all the support to the peace process, despite it going slow. But Venezuela always prefers peace.”      

The announcement comes as tensions between Venezuela and Colombia continue to rise over border issues, which Maduro argue are due to paramilitary activity and contraband operations run by Colombians.