MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

FTAA aftermath: Mexico Venezuela recall ambassadors

Mexico and Venezuela recalled Monday their ambassadors amid a growing diplomatic row which began during the recent Americas Summit in Argentina and rapidly scaled to a diplomatic conflict when Venezuelan president Chavez called his Mexican counterpart Fox a United States imperialism “puppy”.

The conflict seemed to be on track to be solved last Friday but over the weekend President Chavez refused to apologize as demanded by Mexico.

The row began last week after Mexico supported a failed US bid to relaunch the regional free trade talks at the Mar del Plata summit and Mr. Fox said host president Nestor Kirchner had not acted with neutrality. He also criticized President Chavez's hostility towards the Free Trade Area of the Americas, FTAA.

Actually US and Mexico faced strong opposition from five of the 34 countries attending, among them Venezuela, host Argentina and Mercosur members Brazil, Uruguay and Paraguay. The other 29 nations - including Mexico - said they wanted to resume talks on the free trade agreement in 2006

Mr Chavez accused the Mexican leader of disrespecting him and warned: "Don't mess with me sir, because you'll come out pricked". He also accused Mr Fox again for allegedly violating protocol in trying to press for an agreement on FTAA when it was not on the Summit of the Americas' agenda.

"How sad that the president of a people like the Mexicans lets himself become the puppy dog of the empire" stressed President Chavez to an audience of supporters and businessmen in Caracas.

Mexico said the comments "strike at the dignity of the Mexican people" and demanded a formal apology from Venezuela or severing diplomatic ties

But Venezuelan Foreign Minister Ali Rodriguez termed "a senseless aggression" Mexico's demand that the Venezuelan government apologize before midnight Monday or Mexico would recall its envoy from Caracas, and recalled its ambassador.

"The immediate return of ambassador Vladimir Villegas has been ordered" said Mr. Ali Rodríguez, adding the "embassy in Mexico would be left "in the hands of an appointed charge-d'affairs".

He further pointed out the situation was "entirely the responsibility" of President Fox but insisted it "is not a break" in relations with Mexico.