MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Chavez mends fences with OAS Secretary General

President Hugo Chavez and OAS Secretary Jose Insulza

Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez and the Organization of American States Secretary General Jose Miguel Insulza shook hands Monday in Quito bringing relief to the conflicting situation between both officials.

Chavez recently called Insulza "idiot" for having allegedly interfered in Venezuela's internal affairs when in an OAS public statement he questioned the decision of the Chavez administration of not renewing the license of a long established and reputed television station which is accused of "conspiring" with Venezuela's opposition. The two officials met following the swearing in ceremony of President Rafael Correa in the Ecuadorian congress. After shaking hands they exchanged a few words, of unknown content, but which have helped to ease the serious situation of last week. Insulza had refused to be involved in a "boxing game" with any president and in his last visit to Chile said he expected to meet Chavez in Ecuador in spite of the offensive language he used against him. OAS representatives fully supported Secretary General Insulza and criticized Chavez statements, who counter attacked saying Insulza "apologizes or must resign the post he holds". Chavez later admitted that sometimes he goes too far in his statements when defending the interests of Venezuela but anyhow "I don't feel sorry about what I said". The Ecuador event also helped to announce that Peru and Venezuela in less than a "month's time" would be reestablishing full diplomatic relations, according to Peruvian president Alan García following a meeting with his counterpart Hugo Chavez in the Ecuadorian Congress. "In less than a month's time our respective ambassadors will be back in Lima and Caracas", said President Garcia on his return to Peru. Chavez and Garcia exchanged insults when the now Peruvian president last year was campaigning for office and his Venezuelan counterpart openly supported nationalist hopeful Ollanta Humala. Garcia and Humala went to the run off. Reconciliation between both presidents occurred last December during a South American community of nations' summit in Bolivia but the ambassadors' issue was still pending.