Chavez hits back over Colombia accusations
Source: Agencies |
July 18, 2010, Sunday
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VENEZUELAN President Hugo Chavez won't attend the inauguration of Colombia's president-elect, and warned he could break off ties if the country's outgoing leader persists in accusations that Colombian rebel leaders are taking refuge in Venezuela.
Chavez called the accusations "madness" and said in a televised speech on Friday he wouldn't attend the inauguration of President-elect Juan Manuel Santos.
Chavez denied the allegations by outgoing President Alvaro Uribe's government, saying: "We don't hide anyone here." He said if those in Uribe's government "continue with their madness, I'm going to break relations with Colombia in the coming hours."
He also said, however, that the situation poses a test for Santos and that "if there is respect," Venezuela will be willing to take up positive relations again.
Colombian officials have long complained, mostly in private, that Chavez has harbored leaders of its two main rebel groups. But on Thursday, the Colombian Defense Ministry showed video, photographs and satellite images to journalists it said proved the presence of rebel leaders in Venezuela.
Uribe leaves office on August 7. He has been widely credited for weakening Colombia's leftist insurgencies, one of which killed his father in a botched 1983 kidnapping.
Because Uribe has frequently feuded with the Venezuelan president, many Colombians believe the renewed accusations show his dissatisfaction with the olive branch Santos has extended to Chavez.
Trade between Venezuela and Colombia has fallen 70 percent since Chavez froze relations over the past year in response to Colombia's decision to grant Washington greater access to its military bases.
Santos has stressed the importance of mending trade relations with Venezuela that overwhelmingly benefit Colombia's food producers.
Chavez called the accusations "madness" and said in a televised speech on Friday he wouldn't attend the inauguration of President-elect Juan Manuel Santos.
Chavez denied the allegations by outgoing President Alvaro Uribe's government, saying: "We don't hide anyone here." He said if those in Uribe's government "continue with their madness, I'm going to break relations with Colombia in the coming hours."
He also said, however, that the situation poses a test for Santos and that "if there is respect," Venezuela will be willing to take up positive relations again.
Colombian officials have long complained, mostly in private, that Chavez has harbored leaders of its two main rebel groups. But on Thursday, the Colombian Defense Ministry showed video, photographs and satellite images to journalists it said proved the presence of rebel leaders in Venezuela.
Uribe leaves office on August 7. He has been widely credited for weakening Colombia's leftist insurgencies, one of which killed his father in a botched 1983 kidnapping.
Because Uribe has frequently feuded with the Venezuelan president, many Colombians believe the renewed accusations show his dissatisfaction with the olive branch Santos has extended to Chavez.
Trade between Venezuela and Colombia has fallen 70 percent since Chavez froze relations over the past year in response to Colombia's decision to grant Washington greater access to its military bases.
Santos has stressed the importance of mending trade relations with Venezuela that overwhelmingly benefit Colombia's food producers.
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