Results 1 to 2 of 2

Thread: U.S. Says Venezuela Back Colombia Rebels

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jan 2005
    Location
    America
    Posts
    30,749

    U.S. Says Venezuela Back Colombia Rebels

    U.S. Says Venezuela Backs Colombia Rebels

    By GEORGE GEDDA
    Wednesday, August 3, 2005; 6:34 PM

    WASHINGTON -- Venezuela is destabilizing the border area with Colombia by supplying weapons to the country's main leftist insurgency, a top State Department official said Wednesday.

    In an interview with The Associated Press, Nicholas Burns, the State Department's third-ranking official, said the United States is disturbed by what he described as Venezuela's "massive" arms imports. He spoke on the eve of a meeting between President Bush and Colombian President Alvaro Uribe at Bush's Texas ranch.

    Burns expressed hope that Venezuela "will refrain from giving support to the FARC," referring to Colombia's oldest and largest rebel group. Asked if this meant Venezuela has been supporting the FARC with weapons, Burns said, "Yes."

    The Venezuelan embassy did not immediately respond to a message seeking comment.

    The United States and Venezuela have had testy relations in recent months, with Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez accusing Washington of supporting efforts to overthrow him.

    Burns' remarks came as the State Department announced that Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has certified that Colombia's government and armed forces have met congressional human rights standards to qualify for full funding of U.S. assistance programs.

    Failure to meet the standard would have required a cut of about $70 million, according to a State Department estimate.

    Congress has imposed conditions on U.S. assistance in an attempt to curb rights abuses in Colombia as it tries to pacify the country.

    Amnesty International USA immediately challenged Rice's certification announcement.

    "This decision is a major blow to the promotion of human rights in Colombia and is based on only the narrowest reading of the law and the thinnest of evidence," said Dr. William F. Schulz, AIUSA's executive director.
    No One Knows Everything. Only Together May We Find The Truth JG


  2. #2
    somebigguy Guest
    Wasn't there a major oil find in Venezuela recently??? These schmoes are so damn predictable.

Similar Threads

  1. Bush Wields Colombia Trade Deal To Halt Venezuela
    By Gold9472 in forum The New News
    Replies: 0
    Last Post: 12-10-2007, 09:44 AM
  2. Musharraf Tells Mosque Rebels To Surrender Or Die
    By Gold9472 in forum The New News
    Replies: 0
    Last Post: 07-07-2007, 05:02 PM
  3. Venezuela Takes Back Oil Fields
    By Gold9472 in forum The New News
    Replies: 0
    Last Post: 04-03-2006, 07:54 PM
  4. Replies: 0
    Last Post: 12-30-2005, 09:44 AM
  5. Venezuela Bans Poultry Imports From Colombia
    By Gold9472 in forum The New News
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 10-13-2005, 10:24 PM

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •