Colombia-Venezuela diplomatic rift will test effectiveness of Unasur
The extraordinary meeting of Unasur (Union of South American Nations) foreign affairs ministers convened by Ecuadorean president Rafael Correa for this Thursday should help to search for ‘solutions’ to the diplomatic rift between Venezuela and Colombia.
The meeting in Quito to which both chancellors have confirmed their participation (Jaime Bermudez from Colombia and Nicolas Maduro, Venezuela) will also have full presence from the rest of the twelve-member group, according to the Ecuadorean Foreign Affairs ministry.
Ecuador is hosting the meeting since it holds the rotating presidency of the group.
As to the conflict between the neighbouring countries the Ecuadorean government from the very beginning has been imperative in openly supporting a “dialogue process”, and President Correa and his Foreign Affairs minister Ricardo Patiño have been extremely critical of Organization of American States Secretary General Jose Miguel Insulza for having had the opportunity to prevent the conflict, but failed dismally on having allowed an open debate on Colombian claims that President Hugo Chavez “tolerates” the presence of 1.500 guerrillas in its territory.
Chavez has said that Colombia’s accusations are only an excuse for a coordinated aggression from the United States and its ‘puppet’ President Alvaro Uribe taking advantage of the US bases in Colombia.
President Uribe stated that “it was necessary” to address the issue in spite of the fact that next week he is stepping down and president-elect Juan Manuel Santos will be sworn in.
The Unasur meeting in Quito takes place a week after President Chavez decided to severe relations with Colombia as a consequence of the claims presented at the OAS.
Venezuela’s Foreign Affairs minister Nicolas Maduro has been in a whirlwind round of visits to Unasur members (Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Paraguay, Uruguay, Bolivia) requesting support for a peace plan to end “six decades of political violence in Colombia” which would mean establishing a “political dialogue” between the government and the FARC and ELN guerrillas.
However president Uribe has anticipated Bogotá would be presenting its own “peace plan” which will be based on the immediate surrender and demobilization of the guerrillas allegedly ‘tolerated’ in Venezuelan territory.
”If Venezuela has a peace plan, so too here (in Colombia) we have one“ Uribe said, adding that ”there are some clear paths“ to overcome ”the guerrilla problem”.
The Colombian leader said that the guerrillas who turned in their weapons and surrendered would be granted the same rights and guarantees as those extended to demobilized paramilitaries under the Justice and Peace process.
Meantime Colombian Foreign Affairs minister Bermudez in anticipation of Thursday meeting rejected the Venezuelan “peace plan” arguing that “a true peace plan begins with not interfering in the internal affairs of any country”.
Venezuela's “peace proposal for Colombia is as if Colombia of any other country were to speak about a democracy plan for Venezuela,” the foreign minister continued.
”Moreover, a true and sincere peace plan begins by not allowing criminals and terrorists to enjoy any space in the world, as international law dictates and which all countries should respect and abide, which means no physical or political space for the terrorists”, underlined Bermudez.
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Indeed it will..... and it will pass with honors!
But please Liberty, the idea that Argentina is taking over Brazil's leadership is ridiculous. In population, economy, and military prowess, Brazil far surpasses Argentina. There's no way one can assert Argentina has a larger projection than Brazil. And Argentina's economy is largely dependent on Brazil's market and investments. Kirchner is taking the lead in solving this issue because he was elected the head of Unasur, a position he assumed with Lula's heartfelt approval. As for Mujica, he abstained from either vetoing Kirchner or voting for him. He didn't want to sabotage Kirchner's candidacy, but he didn't want to endorse it either, for that would create some domestic problems for him.
As for FARCs guerrillas in Venezuela's territory - well, there are such guerrillas in Brazil as well. The Brazil-Colombia borders are almost pure jungle - a territory that is neither Brazil nor Colombia can properly supervise. Brazil's Polícia Federal has arrested some members of FARCs in national territory, but it is impossible for them to completely supress their presence in national territory. Perhaps Venezuela's in the same situation as Brazil is.
Even if they are spilled on those two “delusional personages”.
Hopefully others will read this article and your comment.
Fraternales saludos :-)
One wonders why Venezuela is keen on a “political solution”? A terrorist is a terrorist. And a Colombian terrorist in Venezuela would be there illegally.
Bit of a no-brainer, really. Venezuela wants a “political solution” so that FARC, perhaps under another name, can continue to try to destabilise Colombia.
Thank you for a well posted response; I appreciated instead of mockery, there’re some that just post that kind of stuff. I believe that we don’t have to agree politically or religiously to be good friends or neighbors. I started posting in MercoPress for that reason, it’s unconceivable to me that a large nation like Argentina has spent 177 years claiming the Falkland Islands. If they were forced out, they had plenty of time then to fight back. Anyhow the 1982 conflict should put an end to hostilities for good Argentina refuses.
“But please Liberty, the idea that Argentina is taking over Brazil's leadership is ridiculous. In population, economy, and military prowess, Brazil far surpasses Argentina”.
I don’t agree. Brazil is not getting involved but allowing Mr. Kirchner to take the lead using UNASUR and his lackeys (Correa, Mujica, Evo, etc.) to deal with the problem, allowing the FARCS to have bases in Venezuela’s soil. Lula has allowed Argentina to break Mercosur international bridges to be blocked before the ICJ gave a judgment. Brazil took a non intervention policy instead of demanding respect for international law.
I don’t believe that size or GNP of a country has nothing do with international and domestic politics. Lula is not a leader but a follower; he just goes along for the ride.
Before you use a lot og time answering seriously to Mr. Liberty.....
He defines himself as:
An “Non Spanish Speaking” Uruguayan- North American citizen........
An US marine that hates latinos but loves his rifle.......
A poacher with a lot of illegal guns that drives around Uruguay and shoots Capibaras for fun......
As you can see a real “ constructive dialoge” person......
Marco, you left that door wide open.....
Be more careful next time:-)
en.mercopress.com/2010/07/30/venezuela-colombia-rift-unasur-unable-to-reach-consensus-calls-for-summit
Welll......It's not
It's more like three dimensional chess...............
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