PEDRO PABLO PEÑALOZA
EL UNIVERSAL

Multi-purpose Colombian and Venezuelan committees are to meet in Bogotá to assess the consequences of Caracas' move to leave the Andean Community of Nations (CAN) and join the Southern Common Market (Mercosur), as well as Colombian President Álvaro Uribe's decision to initial a Free Trade Agreement with the United States.

Colombian and Venezuelan Foreign Affairs ministers, Carolina Barco AND Alí Rodríguez Araque, respectively, following the second meeting of the Venezuela-Colombia High Level Committee (Coban) announced the upcoming meeting in Bogotá.

Barco explained that the parties are to work in order to "set transparent mechanisms to reassure the businesspeople and productive sectors that there are clear rules."

Barco stressed that President Hugo Chávez' move to abandon CAN "does not have any impact on trade relations." She explained that, under the Cartagena Agreement, "over the next five years Venezuela will continue to meet its duties, and we will respect its rights."

Rodríguez Araque underscored the fact that bilateral trades has increased, based on a strong economic growth over the Venezuela-Colombia border. According to official figures, in February 2005, bilateral trade amounted to USD 198.5 million. One year later, it jumped to USD 313.1 million. "Such figures will remain unchanged. Bilateral delegations have expressed willingness to increase such amounts," Rodríguez Araque said.

In order to strengthen economic links, the Foreign Affairs ministers approved the construction of a third bridge between Venezuela and Colombia, as well as improvement of Puente Páez. They also evaluated infrastructure projects intended to further bilateral integration, and border permits. They agreed to an agenda for the upcoming meetings of the Presidential Committee for Negotiations and the Presidential Committee on Integration and Border Issues.

The Colombian delegates seized the opportunity to voice their interest in having a stake in the heavy crude oil Orinoco Belt, southeastern Venezuela. Venezuelan Energy and Petroleum minister Rafael Ramírez positively assessed such plans. The Colombian delegation also explained the "positive impact" of Colombia Free Trade Agreement with Washington.

For Plan Colombia
Barco defended the implementation of Plan Colombia, labeling the initiative as "efficient." When asked about the alleged intervention of demobilized Colombia paramilitary in attacks against Venezuela, she said: "We have evaluated this issue in Colombia, and we have concluded that there are crime bands and drug traffickers playing an important role in violence. We cannot mistake drug-related violence with the issue of demobilized paramilitary."

She added that officials with the Venezuelan Ministry of the Interior and Justice visited Bogotá to talk to officials of Colombian secret police DAS. The visit was intended to "collect data on the latest events that have taken place over the border."

Rodríguez Araque would not elaborate on the issue of violence over the bilateral border.

"We are faced with a very complex problem. I understand that in Colombia, as well as in Venezuela, the number of kidnaps has dropped. But that is not the case in Venezuela for vacunas (payment to paramilitary for protection against guerrillas). We are working hard to find solutions," he said.

Additionally, Barco said Colombia would support Guatemala rather than Venezuela candidacy to occupy a non-permanent seat at the United Nations Security Council, AFP reported.

"Colombia chose Guatemala several months ago. We made this commitment," Barco said.

ppenaloza@eluniversal.com

Translated by Maryflor Suárez R.

Pedro Pablo Penaloza
EL UNIVERSAL