COLOMBIAN AND VENEZUELAN FOREIGN MINISTERS MEET IN

UNCLAS LIMA 000474 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL CO VE PE SUBJECT: COLOMBIAN AND VENEZUELAN FOREIGN MINISTERS MEET IN LIMA, BUT NO AGREEMENT REACHED REF: LIMA 415 ¶1. Peruvian Foreign Minister Manuel Rodriguez hosted an hour-long discussion between Colombian FonMin Carolina Barco and Venezuelan FonMin Ali Rodriguez on 1/27, aimed at advancing a rapprochement between Colombia and Venezuela. Barco and Ali Rodriguez were in Lima to attend a meeting between Andean FonMins and visiting Chinese Vice President Zeng Quinhong (to be reported Septel). ¶2. The Peruvian Foreign Ministry issued a communique 1/27, which stated that, "both Foreign Ministers showed a constructive and positive disposition to find a quick and mutually satisfactory solution to the problem." Peruvian FonMin Rodriguez said that he would leave it to his Colombian and Venezuelan counterparts to discuss the specifics of the meeting, adding, "What I can state is my conviction that the relations between the two countries will be normalized, because that is something that all members of the Andean Community will appreciate with great satisfaction." ¶3. At the conclusion of the meeting both Barco and Ali Rodriguez told a waiting press that there would be no/no joint communique resulting from the meeting. Barco added that the talks between the two countries are "advancing," and characterized the discussion as "very constructive." "The balance is positive," she concluded, "but we have to continue forward." Following a meeting of Andean Foreign Ministers earlier that day, Barco had responded to a journalist's question by stressing that Colombia would not/not issue an apology to Venezuela over the Granda affair. ¶4. COMMENT: Embassy is seeking a fuller readout on the Barco-Ali Rodriguez talks from the Foreign Ministry. END COMMENT. CAULFIELD NNNN