In an effort to calm the border crisis that has heightened tensions between Venezuela and Colombia, the foreign ministers of both nations vowed on Wednesday to increase cooperation between the two South American neighbors.

But at their meeting in the Colombian city of Cartagena, Venezuela's Delcy Rodríguez and host María Ángela Holguín did not agree to reopen border checkpoints or end the deportations of hundreds of Colombians that have resulted from the state of emergency implemented by Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, France 24 reported.

"The ombudsmen of both countries will work in a protocol for deportations, the defense ministers of both countries will meet to analyze the situation in the border, (and) the government of Colombia will begin operations in the (border) area very soon," Holguín told reporters after the meeting, according to Venezuela's semi-official Telesur television network.

Her counterpart promised that the Maduro administration would take unspecified measures to help diffuse the border crisis. Meanwhile, Rodríguez accused local media of a smear campaign aimed at misrepresenting the situation and creating fear and hatred between Colombians and Venezuelans.

"We have been able to dismantle each of the lies that some irresponsible media outlets have published, (and) we have established direct communication channels (with Colombia)," she said.

But even as the talks between Holguín and Rodríguez were taking place, hundreds of undocumented Colombian immigrants living in Venezuela continued to pack up their belongings and return to their homeland, The Associated Press noted. Venezuelan authorities have already deported about 1,000 residents, while approximate 5,000 Colombians have left the country voluntarily.

Maduro's "special operation," which the infuriated president announced as three Venezuelan soldiers were attacked along the border, comes just months before the embattled socialist leader is facing critical congressional elections in a climate of widespread economic uncertainty.

The country's main opposition coalition, known by its Spanish acronym MUD, meanwhile, fears that Maduro might use the volatile situation to try to suspend the vote scheduled for Dec. 6, Blasting News reported.

"We denounce that this is a measure directed to distract people's attention, wielded by a government that has been unable to give real answers to the socioeconomic drama and the crisis of insecurity that plagues all Venezuelans" MUD Executive Secretary Jesús Torrealba said.