Local Time: 5/9/2010  9:40:07 PM                         GMT Time: Sun, 5 Sep 2010 19:40:07
Argentina to mend Bogota, Caracas ties   (29/7/2010)

As relations between Colombia and Venezuela deteriorate, Argentina has stepped in to restore diplomatic ties between the two neighbors.

With Colombia and Venezuela on the brink of war, the South American community is trying to find a peaceful solution.

Tensions grew between Caracas and Bogota following remarks by Colombia's outgoing President Alvaro Uribe that Venezuela was sheltering leftist rebel leaders fighting his government.

He said last week Colombia had evidence that five leaders of leftist guerrilla groups were in Venezuela.

The conflict has led Argentina to act as a mediator between the nations with closed-door negotiations beginning this week in Buenos Aires.

Venezuelan Foreign Minister Nicholas Maduro and his Colombian counterpart Jaime Bermudez are expected to arrive in Argentina on Thursday, when they will be joined by Argentine President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner and Foreign Minister Hector Timerman.

Speaking to Press TV, journalist Sergio Fabian Darco expressed hopes that a solution would be reached quickly.

"I think it's a conflict that can be resolved quickly. Argentina's intervention is somewhat historic," he said.


HomeLocal NewsArab NewsMideast NewsWorld NewsEconomySports