MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Kirchner meets Santos confirms dialogue process with Venezuela

The former Argentine president with Colombia’s Santos (L)

Unasur (Union of South American Nations) secretary general Nestor Kirchner held a meeting Monday with Colombian president Juan Manuel Santos to keep advancing in the dialogue process with neighbouring Venezuela sponsored by the group. Santos and his Venezuelan counterpart are scheduled to meet Tuesday.

Colombian Foreign Minister, María Ángela Holguín present at the meeting said that Kirchner and Unasur efforts are considered of an “utmost seriousness” in the dialogue process, thus confirming the positive attitude in favour of a prompt solution between the leaders of Colombia and Venezuela.

Kirchner has been holding gatherings with Venezuelan and Colombian officials during the last days. On Sunday, the Unasur chair met with Venezuelan Foreign Affairs Minister Nicolás Maduro and his Colombian counterpart María Ángela Holguín.

It was following the meeting that Kirchner announced a presidential summit was to be held on Tuesday featuring both clashing countries' leaders.

According to Colombian media, the presidential meeting will take place at the San Pedro Alejandrino ranch in Santa Marta, Colombia, whose latest inhabitant was no other than 19th-independence hero Simón Bolivar.

Chávez himself has promoted the encounter, “On Tuesday, we'll meet president Santos. We are going to work out all latest matters, and initiate a new relation between the two nations in an attempt to achieve peace, mutual progress and development.”

Earlier in July President Chavez broke diplomatic ties with Colombia then ruled by President Alvaro Uribe who accused the Venezuelan government before the Organization of American States, of tolerating guerrillas and leaders from the guerrilla groups in its territory.