[NYTr] Chavez Says Uribe Showed Bad Faith, Ignored Pact to Discuss Any Difficulties

[All the News That Doesn't Fit]

Merco Press via VHeadline - Nov 26, 2007
http://www.vheadline.com/readnews.asp?id=77107


Chavez Feels "Betrayed," Has Lost Confidence in Uribe

by Merco Press

Colombian President Alvaro Uribe has said he is ready to continue a
“constructive dialogue” with his Venezuelan counterpart Hugo Chavez
after Bogota stopped the latter in his mediation bid with the
Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) insurgents for release of
hostages.

But from Caracas, President Chavez said he is putting relations with
Colombia "in the freezer" and warned economic relations will be hurt,
blaming actions by Colombian President Uribe that he said were "a spit
in the face."

"I declare before the world that I'm putting relations with Colombia in
the freezer because I've completely lost confidence with everyone in
the Colombian government," Chavez said during a televised speech. 

In an 18-point communique, the Colombian government warned that the
FARC rebels have an interest in “creating divisions and antagonism
between Colombia and Venezuela."

:We must not fall into the traps of terrorism," said Uribe in his first
statement after Chavez' acid response to Colombia's decision to cancel
Venezuelan mediation in the search for an accord with the FARC.

Uribe said his government would continue making “every effort to secure
the release of the hostages and hopes that the FARC, instead of
carrying on with their terrorist stupidity, will hand over the hostages
to President Chavez or President Sarkozy (of France), or to the
International Red Cross unilaterally and as soon as possible."

The message said that instead of providing proof that the hostages are
alive, in recent weeks the FARC murdered 12 candidates for regional
elections and tried to kill governor of Cauca Juan Jose Chaux.

"Colombia cannot permit FARC terrorists to take advantage of the grief
of the hostages and their families, take advantage of international
good offices, take advantage of pleas for a humanitarian accord, all to
weaken our policy of a secure democracy, which is the only thing that
in the end will eliminate kidnapping and restore peace," said the
presidential statement.

Bogota called off Chavez' mediation after the Venezuelan president
spoke directly with the Colombian military command, despite Uribe's
objection.

"The government cannot allow third parties to involve the Colombian
military in the discussion, because it goes against our democratic
traditions of unity in the armed forces," Uribe said in his statement.

Chavez said he feels "betrayed" and has lost confidence in Uribe,
adding that the latter's decision to terminate his efforts to secure
the release of hostages held by leftist rebels will affect bilateral
relations.

Chavez agreed in August to a request by Colombian opposition Senator
Piedad Cordoba -- with Uribe's support -- to secure the exchange of 45
high-profile hostages by the FARC for hundreds of jailed guerrillas,
including those extradited to the United States.

                          ***

VHeadline - Nov 26, 2007
http://www.vheadline.com/readnews.asp?id=77100


Chavez Loses Faith Uribe after Being Set Up by Power Behind Throne

by Patrick J. O'Donoghue

Over the weekend serious diplomat serious diplomatic tensions have
arisen between Colombia and Venezuela after President Chavez threatened
to review and even freeze relations with Colombia. 

Telesur continental has denounced that its correspondent in Colombia,
William Parra is suffering persecution because of an interview he held
with a Colombian army officer, currently in the hands of the
Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC). 

The interview was presented as a sign of life of one of the hostages
being held by the FARC. 

However, Colombian Police, General Oscar Naranjo accused Parra of
manipulating the interview. 

President Chavez has responded to Colombian President Alvaro Uribe,
stating that he thinks Uribe does not want peace and that he has lost
confidence in the Colombian government, calling the attack as a "spit
in Venezuela's face."

"It is a lack of respect the way the Colombian President issued a
communique, which not only suspended the mediation process that had
been advancing despite great difficulties," Chavez insists, "but because
it ruled out the possibility of a humanitarian agreement." 

Chavez accuses President Uribe of breaking the mutual commitment to
phone each other in the event of any difficulty or news that could
endanger the process.

The FARC has not responded to the rupture but analysts suggest that
Uribe's sudden decision to end the process justify the rebels' mistrust
of the Colombian government's ulterior intentions in the 40-year old
civil war.