Chavez Frias signs Cuzco Consensus with reservations on UN intervention

<a href=www.vheadline.com>Venezuela's Electronic News Posted: Sunday, May 25, 2003 By: Patrick J. O'Donoghue

Colombian President, Alvaro Uribe succeeded in obtaining strong support for his counter-insurgency policy against the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC)  and other left-wing guerrilla groups during a meeting of the Group of 8 (G8)  in Paris. Uribe made the announcement during a Rio Group meeting in Cuzco, Peru. 

However, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez Frias has put a damper on the meeting of Latin American Heads of State by signing the Cuzco Consensus with reservations. 

The Venezuelan President says he does not agree with United Nations (UN)  involvement in solving Colombia's internal problems and also is holding back on the Free Trade for the Americas Agreement (FTAA). "What the Consensus has stated regarding Colombia is very dangerous because it opens the door to a problem far more serious that the war and that is interventionism ... Venezuela continues to support the peace process." 

As for the FTAA, Chavez Frias questions outside dependence ... "we have enough resources in Latin America so why should we continue depending on others?" 

The Consensus includes the usual presidential-speak about overcoming poverty, consolidating democracy, inclusion and other recurring promises but it makes a major breakthrough by stressing the importance of political parties in democracy and urging legislation to ensure political party autonomy, financial transparency and accountability.

Organization of American States (OAS) general secretary, Cesar Gaviria received praise for his role in getting Venezuela's government and opposition to reach an agreement, which is expected to be signed next week in Caracas.