A regional Latin American meeting has focused on defusing tensions between Colombia and Venezuela, despite Bogota’s absence, which was characterized by Caracas as a “huge mistake.”
Defense and foreign ministers from Union of South American Nations (UNASUR) member countries were welcomed as the meeting opened on Friday by Ecuadorean Foreign Minister Fander Falconi.
But noticeably absent from the UNASUR meeting were Colombian Defense Minister Gabriel Silva and Colombian Foreign Minister Jaime Bermudez.
The gathering is addressing growing bilateral spats in the region, including tensions between Peru and Chile over military espionage reportedly sponsored by Santiago and a months-long, escalating row between Bogota and Caracas.
Tensions between the two nations, spurred by a US deal with Bogota allowing US forces to run anti-drug operations from Colombian bases, has resulted in the severing of diplomatic ties and even talk of military conflict between the neighbors.
Venezuelan Foreign Minister Nicolas Maduro told reporters that Colombia’s “absence is inexplicable, a huge mistake and an act of contempt towards UNASUR.”
On Thursday evening, Bermudez said “the recent escalation in threats against the Colombian government” had made it “impossible to hold respectful discussions during the meeting.”
He said Bogota was sending to UNASUR a “technical” delegation only, without the inclusion of ministers.
The delegation presented at the meeting a letter from Bermudez giving assurances about the US-Colombian military agreement, Brazilian Foreign Minister Celso Amorim told reporters.
While the contents of the letter have not been divulged, Amorim said: “I believe some progress has been made over this issue that worries us so much, that is [presenting] formal assurances” about the US-Colombian agreement at UNASUR.
Venezuela suspended diplomatic relations with Colombia on July 28 in response to the US-Colombian military base deal.
The agreement, signed on Oct. 30, involves seven Colombian bases and sparked consternation throughout the region, particularly irking Caracas.
Venezuela shares a 2,000km border with Colombia and has denounced the deal, saying it poses a military threat to the sovereignty of Latin American countries.
The tension between Colombia and Venezuela has grown so heated that both sides have talked of war.
Early this month, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez called on his countrymen to “prepare for war” and the Colombian defense minister said on Friday that “for the first time in decades, the defense ministry must study how to prepare to face a foreign threat.”
In addition to harsh rhetoric, the tensions have also produced border confrontations, and Venezuela, which is Colombia’s second biggest market, has drastically reduced its imports from its neighbor.
Both the US-Colombian deal and the tensions it has caused between Caracas and Bogota have raised concerns throughout the region.
UNASUR ministers are expected to seek security and confidence-building measures that can reassure them and Caracas that the US deal will not threaten their sovereignty.
Among the proposals being considered is a Peruvian suggestion for a “regional non-aggression pact.”
Maduro said UNASUR had also agreed to call for a meeting with US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to discuss the military base deal with Colombia, which the US State Department in a recent letter said harbors no aggressive intentions.
Maduro said that Ecuador, as current president of the regional group, was tasked with setting a time and place for the UNASUR-Clinton meeting.
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