[Previous entry: "Achievements Under Aristide, Now Lost"] [Next entry: "Leftist candidate Morales elected president in Bolivia"]

12/19/2005:

"Chavez and Uribe Put Aside Differences"

Colombia — One leader sometimes wears a red beret and calls himself a revolutionary. The other prefers pressed white shirts and considers himself a no-nonsense crusader against a bloody leftist insurgency.

Presidents Hugo Chavez of Venezuela and Alvaro Uribe of Colombia are diametrically opposed in style and ideology, but they have largely put aside their differences and overcome disputes over the years, building what appears to be an uncommon friendship.

Uribe, whose close ties with President Bush contrast with Chavez's frequent criticism of United States "imperialism," assured Chavez he would not allow Colombia to serve as a base for opponents who may be plotting to overthrow the leftist leader.

After studying documents provided by Chavez, Uribe said he had confirmed that a group of former Venezuelan military officers recently went to a government building in Bogota to meet with Colombian military officers.

Uribe offered no details about the meeting but said he took full responsibility and had issued a warning that no conspiracy against Chavez would be tolerated.
chron.com

Colombian President to US: Stop Meddling
Colombian President Alvaro Uribe, one of Washington's best friends in South America, told the United States to stop "meddling" in his country's affairs after the U.S. ambassador urged him to take steps against corruption in regional elections.

U.S. Ambassador William Wood, in a speech in the capital Friday, said the 2003 elections for mayors and governors saw many unopposed candidates because potential opponents were bribed, scared off and, in some cases, murdered.

He said rightist paramilitary groups were often to blame for those abuses and warned the same could happen in elections scheduled for March elections.

The illegal paramilitaries recently signed a peace deal that makes fighters who disarm eligible for benefits such as reduced prison sentences, pardons, job training and stipends. Wood said fighters who seek to manipulate elections should be stripped of their benefits.

Uribe responded in a sharply worded statement late Friday.

"The Colombian government does not accept the meddling of foreign governments, even if it is the United States," he said, adding that it is already clear that paramilitary leaders lose benefits if they break the law.

Uribe said Washington should not try to use Plan Colombia, an anti-drug program funded mostly by a $4 billion aid package from Washington, "to put pressure on our country."

The U.S. Embassy said Wood meant no offense by his remarks.

"There was no intention to interfere in any way with Colombian elections, but rather to support the democratic, free, open and impartial process," the embassy said in a statement Saturday.

Uribe, a conservative who took office in 2002, is viewed as Washington's main ally in Latin America.

Colombia peace talks begin in Cuba
-- Exploratory peace talks between Colombia and its second-largest rebel group began Friday in Cuba with help from Nobel Prize winning author Gabriel Garcia Marquez and facilitators from Spain, Norway and Switzerland.

Given the history of failed attempts at peace in Colombia, the nation's peace commissioner urged all parties involved in the talks to work to regain the confidence of Colombia's people.

"Our main concern at this time is to gain trust," said Luis Carlos Restrepo, speaking at the official opening of negotiations. "Colombia can't take any more setbacks."

Restrepo, who was representing the Colombian government, promised to be realistic and responsible in talks with the rebels.

For his part, the representative of the National Liberation Army, or ELN, promised to listen to the Colombian government's position, but said the rebels would not accept any superficial solution and called for massive changes in the social, economic and political structure of the country.

Antonio Garcia, the military commander of the ELN, promised, however, that his rebel group won't give up easily.

"We are not going to run," Garcia told reporters. "If the obstacles are big, we'll have to look for support in society, support in the international community. We'll have to reflect deeply on the obstacles, and work hard to overcome them ... to clear the way to peace."

Several informal talks between the Colombian government and the ELN have failed since 1998. Earlier this year, Colombian President Alvaro Uribe accused Garcia of frustrating peace efforts.

"It should make then ashamed if they don't arrive at anything this time," said Garcia Marquez, talking with officials on the sidelines of the event. The author did not address the gathering.

When Cuba last hosted Colombia's talks with the ELN, in 2002, then-President Andres Pastrana pulled out, saying the rebel group was not interested in peace. Friday's talks mark the Uribe administration's first formal negotiations with insurgents.

Garcia urged patience this time, warning that the ELN's 41-year war against the Colombian state would not end overnight.

"Peace is not a moment, it's not an act," Garcia said. "It's a process, it's the construction of a stage."

It's pretty obvious that Castro and Chavez are doing some clever long-term strategizing. Fidel has been waiting a long time for an ally, and now there's Chavez and Morales and Lula (maybe) and the president of Uruguay too. The indigenous democratic values of Latin America may finally have their day.