MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Brazil wants a Colombia/Venezuela border commission to ease tensions

Marco Aurelio García is working on the proposal

Brazil will be proposing to Colombia and Venezuela the creation of border vigilance commission as the first step to cool tensions between the two neighbouring countries, reported the government’s official news agency.

The commission would have a similar framework to that which is working for Colombia and Ecuador, that facilitates the exchange of official information on what is happening along border areas, said Marco Aurelio García, President Lula da Silva International Affairs advisor.

“If help is needed to keep watch along the border, we are willing to contribute”, said García during a press conference in Rio do Janeiro.

Relations between Colombia and Venezuela have been frozen for months on orders from Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez. Lately the situation has become even tenser because of several incidents along the border with President Chavez, last Sunday, calling on the military and civilian population to “prepare for war”.

Two days later Chavez blamed the press for “distorting” his “reflections”.

According to García the proposal for a commission would be done following consultations with Colombian president Alvaro Uribe and Chavez, which could happen when the Amazon summit Brazil is hosting next November 26th in Manaos, to try and reach a common position regarding the Copenhagen Climate conference.

“If we can consult both presidents, we will be making the proposal” said García although admitting the exact date of the summit is in doubt because some leaders have “agenda problems”.

The Brazilian government has on several occasions offered to mediate between Colombia and Venezuela, as long as both countries so request it.

Lula da Silva has anticipated his intention is to get both leaders (Chavez and Uribe) “talking to each other” during the Manaos summit.

According to García the vigilance commission could begin “with a non aggression pact between both countries leading to normal relations”.

Nevertheless García admitted that the long border between Colombia and Venezuela is a “complicated” area because of the presence of guerrilla groups such as the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, FARC; the National Liberation Army, ELN; para-military forces; the drugs gangs and criminals of all kinds.