Venezuela on Tuesday rejected a U.S. offer to help improve relations between Caracas and Bogota and reminded the Americans the Chavez government considers the U.S. military pact with Colombia the root of the crisis.
The U.S. ambassador to Bogota, William Brownfield, on Monday told Colombian press his government was willing to support mediation efforts between the quarreling neighbors.
But according to the Venezuelan Foreign Ministry, “the proposal to mediate has the clear attention of diverting attention from its primary responsibility in the crisis,” adding the remarks are considered “rude in the eyes of the aware people in the world.”
“Venezuela wants to remind (the U.S.) that the installation of military bases in Colombia under the unrestricted control of the United States is the source of this instability and regional concerns,” the Ministry’s press release continued.
“If the United States are really interested in helping to promote dialogue and regional stability, it should desist from its intention to turn Colombia into a hub for its regional domination strategy,” the statement condluded.
Venezuela froze diplomatic relations with Colombia following the first reports on the military pact that allows the U.S. to use Colombian military bases and civilian airports. Tensions in the border region of the countries have since risen and the governments of both Venezuela and Colombia have accused the other of trying to destabilize the other.
