DATE=3/9/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=COLOMBIA-VENEZUELA-DISPUTE (L-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-260040
BYLINE=BILL RODGERS
DATELINE=RIO DE JANEIRO
CONTENT=
INTERNET=YES
INTRO: Colombia has sharply criticized Venezuela for
revealing its plans to hold secret talks in Caracas
with a representative of a Colombian rebel group. As
VOA's Bill Rodgers reports from our South America
bureau, Colombia's President reacted angrily to the
Venezuelan action.
TEXT: Colombian President Andres Pastrana has accused
Venezuela of acting, as he put it: "irresponsibly" by
revealing plans for a secret meeting with a
representative of the National Liberation Army, or E-L-
N, in Caracas.
Mr. Pastrana said confidentiality is key to
international efforts for supporting the Colombian
peace process. He told reporters Thursday Venezuela's
Foreign Minister, Jose Vicente Rangel, violated this
confidentiality by making the information about the
talks public.
The Colombian leader spoke just hours after Mr. Rangel
told reporters a top representative of the E-L-N would
be meeting shortly in Caracas with the Colombian
ambassador to Cuba. The Venezuelan official said at
the meeting the Colombian envoy would present his
government's response to the E-L-N's proposal for
setting up a demilitarized zone in Colombian territory.
The E-L-N has been demanding this as a precondition for
holding formal peace talks.
Venezuela has supported Colombia's efforts to negotiate
a peace agreement with the country's two main rebel
groups -- the E-L-N and the Revolutionary Armed Forces
of Colombia, or FARC. President Hugo Chavez has tried
to facilitate the process by offering Venezuela's
territory as a site for peace negotiations.
But President Pastrana questioned this Thursday --
saying his government presumed confidentiality would be
maintained by holding the talks in Venezuela. He said
the actions of Venezuela's Foreign Minister raise
serious concerns. (Signed)
NEB/WFR/PT
09-Mar-2000 16:39 PM EDT (09-Mar-2000 2139 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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