Chavez, Uribe Pledge to Strengthen Border Security

<a href=www.voanews.com>VOA News 24 Apr 2003, 01:57 UTC

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez and Colombian President Alvaro Uribe have agreed to strengthen security to stop cross-border raids by Colombian leftist rebels and rightist paramilitaries.

The two presidents made the pledge Wednesday as they met in Puerto Ordaz, Venezuela to smooth over relations strained by a dispute concerning border security.

The talks followed weeks of tension fueled by accusations that Venezuela harbors Colombian leftist rebels.

Earlier this week, Colombian Attorney-General Luis Camilo Osorio said in published remarks that Venezuela has become a refuge for what he called "Colombian criminals" trying to topple Mr. Uribe's government.

President Chavez denies his government has ever aided Colombian guerrillas or knowingly allowed them to slip into Venezuelan territory.

Colombia also has demanded information about reports that Venezuelan military aircraft bombed a Colombian frontier hamlet in March in support of leftist rebels battling rightist paramilitaries. Venezuela denies those reports.

Officials in both Venezuela and Colombia say the border between the two countries has been the scene of numerous skirmishes between various military and paramilitary groups.

In addition to border security, Presidents Chavez and Uribe discussed bilateral trade and economic cooperation.