Venezuela, Colombia Discuss Border Issues

Posted on Wed, Apr. 23, 2003 FABIOLA SANCHEZ KansasCity.com-Associated Press

CARACAS, Venezuela -Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez meets with his Colombian counterpart, Alvaro Uribe, on Wednesday to discuss border security and trade at a moment when bilateral relations are tense.

Chavez said he's committed to improving relations with Colombia despite recent allegations by authorities from the neighboring country that Venezuela has sheltered Colombian rebels.

"We sent our affection and our best intention to continue improving relations with the sister republic of Colombia," Chavez said Tuesday.

Chavez denies his government has ever aided Colombia's leftist insurgent groups. He has said groups in both countries are trying ruin the neighbors' relationship, but he said he's optimistic that Wednesday's meeting would be a success despite his adversaries' efforts to "sabotage" it.

The South American leaders also are to sign a pact to build a natural gas pipeline connecting the two nations and an agreement in which Venezuela would supply border towns in rural Colombia with electricity, Chavez said.

Trade between the two nations, which topped US$2 billion over the last two years, will also be discussed at the summit in the southeastern city of Puerto Ordaz, located 500 kilometers (310 miles) from Caracas.

Trade with Colombia has suffered severely since Jan. 22, when Venezuela halted foreign exchange purchases to protect foreign reserves and guard against a slide in the bolivar currency.

Colombian businesses haven't been able to collect an estimated US$350 million in debts from Venezuelan importers because of delays in setting up a new foreign exchange scheme.

According to estimates from the Colombian Venezuelan Chamber of Commerce and Integration, bilateral trade could fall by as much as 60 percent this year if such problems persist.

The presidential summit will be the second that Chavez and Uribe have held in less than six months. The last meeting took place on Nov. 14 in Colombia's coastal city of Santa Marta.