CARACAS, Wednesday July 09, 2008 | Update
During a meeting to be held next Friday, Venezuelan President
Hugo Chávez and his Colombian counterpart Álvaro
Uribe will deal with varied cooperation issues based on a
"respectful, constructive" dialogue, said Venezuelan Minister
of Foreign Affairs Nicolás Maduro.
"It is a political meeting to talk candidly, to be reunited
from the political viewpoint and to order a schedule of vital
matters."
Maduro said that a "peace dialogue" should take precedence
in the talks of the two heads of state. He added that the
presidents would talk about multiple issues, particularly
the ongoing cooperation programs in the areas of energy, trade
and infrastructure.
The minister underscored Venezuelan-Colombian historical
relations and said that the upcoming meeting is set to resume
a constructive dialogue.
Petrocaribe Summit
As for the Petrocaribe meeting that will be held in
Maracaibo next week, Maduro reported on the confirmed attendance
of the 17 member states, and announced also the incorporation
of Honduras and Guatemala.
"The Petrocaribe organization has widened up; it is stronger.
We have talked also to Costa Rica; they will send an official
delegation to act as observers."
He explained that during the meeting, the new global oil
scenario will be assessed and Venezuela will take a battery
of proposals in terms of energy, food crisis and additional
issues that may bolster the entity.