MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Chile-Colombia increase cooperation

Colombian president Alvaro Uribe begins this Monday a two days official visit to Chile during which he will sign several cooperation, security and trade agreements.

Mr. Uribe's visit comes a year after President Ricardo Lagos trip to violence ridden Colombia when he offered to become the international spokesperson for the "democratic security policy" that the incoming Colombian president promised his fellow countrymen on taking office.

The security package includes a bilateral military technical cooperation agreement; an updating of security cooperation at police level "to adapt it to new security challenges" and finally Judicial cooperation.

Chile beginning 2004 will advise Colombia in the development of the forestry and paper industry. Presidents Lagos and Uribe are expected to officially name a joint committee that will address the promotion and balancing of bilateral trade which at the moment is amply favourable to Chile. However the significance of the visit is more political since both friends are in need of each other.

Chile is facing problems with the resurgence of the Bolivian territorial claim that is sponsored by Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez who would like to see a "popular Indian" government take over in landlocked Bolivia.

Mr. Uribe who ran as an independent promising to end the endemic guerrilla and drug cartels violent uprising and won by a landslide, still has the support of almost 80% of the population in spite of recent political setbacks. Under President Uribe (and US military assistance) the Colombian Army once again has regained the initiative in the guerrilla war but the insurgents flee to safe havens in Venezuela.

This has caused several diplomatic rifts between the two neighbouring countries since here again Mr. Chavez with his "anti-capitalist" preaching has not denied his good feelings towards the "liberation" war against the "Colombian oligarchy".

Besides Chile is sponsoring Interior Minister (Home Secretary) José Miguel Insulza as Secretary General of the Organization of American States, OAS, who if elected would replace Colombian born César Gaviria that is playing a leading role in the political pacification of Venezuela.