GOC REACTS TO CHAVEZ "AGGRESSION TOWARDS COLOMBIA"

UNCLAS BOGOTA 000243 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PTER PINR PHUM PREL PREF CO VZ SUBJECT: GOC REACTS TO CHAVEZ "AGGRESSION TOWARDS COLOMBIA" ¶1. The GOC issued a formal communique on January 16 demanding that Venezuelan President Chavez "cease his aggression against Colombia." Foreign Minister Fernando Araujo, who was held hostage by the FARC for nearly six years, read the communique, which was prompted by Chavez' comments accusing the GOC of being a threat to peace in South America. Chavez said that "Uribe does what Bush tells him to do. Bush wants war, and so Uribe wants war." He added that Uribe maintained the war in Colombia due to pressure from the USG, and claimed to have proof that the USG and GOC were plotting to assassinate him. Chavez made his comments in Nicaragua, the only country to support his call for the international community to grant the FARC and ELN belligerent status. Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega has also aroused Colombia's anger by publicly praising FARC leader Manuel Marulanda. ¶2. In the communique, the GOC urged Chavez to respect Colombia and cease his interference in Colombia's internal affairs. The GOC charged that Chavez had taken every opportunity to mistreat the GOC or its leaders, confused cooperation with interference, and ignored the presence of FARC hostages in his own country. Still, Araujo emphasized that the GOC wants to maintain a constructive dialogue with the GOV through diplomatic and other channels. ¶3. Pro-GOC and opposition political leaders denounced Chavez' statements and demanded a halt to his interference in Colombian affairs. Leftist Polo Democratico Senator Gustavo Petro said Chavez' efforts were hurting, not helping, prospects for peace in Colombia. Former-President and Liberal Party chief Cesar Gaviria said Chavez' statements were anti-democratic and a thinly veiled defense of the FARC and armed struggle in Colombia. Congress President Nancy Patricia Gutierrez stressed the Uribe administration's desire to achieve lasting peace and dismissed the possibility of a plot being concocted between the United States and the Colombian military against Venezuela as "absurd." Brownfield