Chaves Cought With His Hand in the Cookie Bowl Again

www.republicofpanama.net

Chavez: Venezuela to return ambassador to Colombia

story by Associated Press Writer Jorge Rueda

CARACAS, Venezuela – President Hugo Chavez said Saturday he's returning his ambassador to Colombia, moving to resolve rising diplomatic tensions over weapons found in a rebel cache.

Chavez told Ambassador Gustavo Marquez to return to Bogota 11 days after recalling him over Colombia's statement that the anti-tank weapons came from Venezuela.

"Go back to Bogota, Gustavo," Chavez said. "Go to work."

Chavez had accused Colombia — one of its largest trading partners — of acting irresponsibly in its accusation that anti-tank rocket launchers sold to Venezuela by Sweden during the 1980s were obtained by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC. Sweden confirmed the weapons were originally sold to Venezuela's military.

Tensions between the neighboring nations have also become increasingly heated over Colombia's efforts to negotiate an agreement with Washington that would grant the U.S. military long-term leases on seven bases.

But Chavez assured a group of visiting Colombian activists that he won't follow through on threats to sever diplomatic ties completely.

The group, headed by Sen. Piedad Cordoba and Alan Jara, a former FARC hostage, came on the heels of a Thursday visit by former Colombian President Ernesto Samper, who had also come to aid efforts to ease relations.

Cordoba, a close Chavez ally, asked Chavez to consider returning Marquez to his post, saying: "You need to send him." She later told reporters that the meeting's success offered "a very important message" to the FARC regarding the need for dialogue.

Chavez is likely looking to safeguard Venezuela's economic ties, said Michael Shifter of the Washington-based Inter-American Dialogue think tank. Chavez had threatened to halt $7.2 billion in shared annual trade and expropriate Colombian businesses if further accusations were made.

"Whatever the tension and mistrust between the two governments, they're very intertwined in their economic relations," Shifter said. "It makes it very difficult to cut off all relationships with Colombia — it's just not realistic."

Chavez also said he was willing to work with Colombia to reach an agreement, but asked President Alvaro Uribe to "be reasonable and put yourself in our shoes."

Chavez, who has long been a critic of U.S. influence in Latin America, has warned an increased U.S. military presence in Colombia could destabilize the region. Colombian officials have said that Venezuela should not be concerned, and that the U.S. forces would help fight drug trafficking.

"Venezuela is willing to look for a political way out, a way out for peace," Chavez said, alleging U.S. officials were looking to start a war.

"They've planned it there in the Pentagon," he said, without offering proof.

Uribe's government said late Friday that only the nation's president and foreign minister are authorized to act in regard to foreign relations. The statement from the Colombian Interior Ministry did not mention Cordoba or other recent visitors to Venezuela.

Relations between Venezuela and Colombia previously reached a low point last year, after Colombia attacked a FARC camp in Ecuador. Chavez responded by temporarily pulling his ambassador from Bogota and briefly dispatching troops to the 1,400-mile (2,300-kilometer) border with Colombia.

Colombian officials have long alleged that Chavez's government aids the FARC by giving senior rebel leaders refuge and allowing the guerrillas to smuggle tons of cocaine through the country — allegations that Chavez denies.

After Chavez and Uribe made amends last year, relations calmed between the two nations.