[A-List] US asks South American Nations to Pressure Venezuela

["Macdonald Stainsby" <mstainsby@xxxxxxxxx>]

US asks South American Nations to Pressure Venezuela

Monday, Jan 24, 2005

By: Sarah Wagner and Jonah Gindin?Venezuelanalysis.com

Caracas, January 24, 2005?In a letter sent to South American nations
yesterday, the United States called for these countries to pressure
Venezuela for its alleged soft-stance on Colombian guerillas, according to
a report in Brazil?s Folha de Sao Paulo on Sunday.

According to the Brazilian newspaper, the United States indicated its
support for the Colombian administration in its deepening diplomatic
crisis with Venezuela.

Tensions have been high between Venezuela and Colombia since mid-January
when Colombia confirmed that Rodrigo Granda, the ?Foreign Minister? of the
Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), was indeed kidnapped in
Caracas on December 13th, as Venezuelan officials had initially claimed.

Since Colombia failed to issue a warrant for the extradition of Granda,
the Venezuelan government has denounced these actions as a violation of
international law, and a threat to Venezuelan sovereignty.  In spite of
this, US Ambassador to Colombia William Wood told reporters last week that
?We support 100 percent the declarations from (Colombia's) presidential
palace.?

The letter, issued by the US State Department, reportedly criticized
Venezuelan officials for having distanced themselves from the fight
against terrorism.  ?We are extremely worried about the position of the
Venezuelan government and the possibility that this matter could escalate
into a crisis,? reads one of the paragraphs of the letter.

Whitehouse spokesperson Adam Ereli repeated that sentiment in a statement
to the press made earlier today.  ?I think that certainly we're looking
carefully at what the Venezuelan Government does or does not do in
response to the information provided,? said Ereli, referring to a list
provided to Venezuelan officials by their Colombian counterparts
identifying terrorists allegedly hiding in Venezuela.  ?And their actions
in that regard will, I think, inform subsequent judgments and subsequent
assessments,? by the United States, continued Ereli.

When questioned as to the degree and nature of US involvement in Granda?s
?capture?, Ereli admitted that the US was involved, ?to the extent that we
help provide information and share information, yes.?

According to the text of the letter sent to Venezuela?s South American
neighbors, in order to normalize relations with Colombia, Venezuela should
adopt a ?more conciliatory position in the matter.? It goes on to urge
other South American nations to pressure Caracas to clarify its relations
with Colombian guerrillas.  ?We call upon other countries to pressure the
government of Venezuela to end relations with the FARC and with any other
organization deemed to be of a terrorist nature by the United States,
including the National Liberation Army (ELN) and the United Self Defense
Forces of Colombia (AUC).?

During a march ?in defense of national sovereignty? held yesterday on the
47th anniversary of the birth of Venezuelan democracy, Venezuelan Vice
President José Vicente Rangel spoke in the east-side Caracas barrio of
Petare.

Addressing thousands of red-clad protesters, Rangel fully rejected US
intervention in Venezuelan-Colombian bi-lateral relations, declaring that
this ?meddling by the United States is unfortunate; instead of looking for
solutions, they are adding to the fire.?

Rangel emphasized that ?the fear is not terrorism, which is an important
issue in both countries; however, of greater concern is national
sovereignty.?

?This is a document that corresponds to Condoleezza Rice's style and is
detached from the Latin American reality,? pointed out Rangel, referring
to the US? letter.  ?The United States does not have the authority to
meddle in this matter,? he continued, ?[the US] does it because they have
a deliberate policy of aggression; I deplore that Colombia has not better
defined its position from the position of the US.?


--
Macdonald Stainsby
http://lists.econ.utah.edu/mailman/listinfo/rad-green
In the contradiction lies the hope.
--Brecht.