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THE AMERICAS: Bush voices concern as Colombian rebels 'seek refuge in Venezuela' ============================================== WASHINGTON TO STRENGTHEN MILITARY TIES WITH BOGOTA: Financial Times; Apr 19, 2002 By EDWARD ALDEN and JAMES WILSON US President George W. Bush yesterday expressed concern over Colombian charges that rebels had taken refuge in neighbouring Venezuela, and said he planned to step up efforts to help Colombia fight the terrorist groups. The comments, following Mr Bush's meeting with Andres Pastrana, Colombia's president, underscored how the US's global war on terrorism is strengthening its military involvement in Colombia and exacerbating tensions with Venezuela. Mr Bush said he would push Congress to approve legislation that would for the first time allow US military aid for Colombia to be used not only for anti-drug operations but for armed action against suspected terrorist groups. The proposal was endorsed this week by Republican and Democratic leaders in Congress, following meetings on Wednesday with Mr Pastrana. The Colombian leader said the two countries were "fighting a common enemy that is narcotrafficking and narcoterrorism". In talks yesterday Mr Bush said the two presidents concentrated on "how to change the focus of our strategy from counter-narcotics to include counter-terrorism". That new emphasis will place a harsher spotlight on Venezuela's alleged links with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), the guerrilla army that the US considers a terrorist group. Farc groups have been accused of operating out of Venezuelan territory and the Colombian military says the organisation smuggles arms and ammunition through Venezuela. Venezuela's interior minister is alleged to have previously carried out secret missions to talk to Farc. Hugo Chavez, the Venezuelan president, has also heavily criticised Plan Colombia, the US-backed counter-drugs programme, saying it would spark a spillover of problems into his country. Venezuela has refused to allow US aircraft to fly over its territory to monitor drug smuggling flights, which critics say has left a hole in regional counter-narcotics efforts. Mr Pastrana said yesterday that he was seeking assurances from Venezuela that Farc members who were operating out of Mexico before their offices were shut down by the Mexican government last week had not moved to Venezuela. The allegation of ties to Farc is likely to put more strain on US relations with Venezuela. The US has come under harsh criticism from many Latin American countries for failing to denounce the attempted military coup last week against Mr Chavez. Mr Bush said yesterday that, while the US clearly opposed "extra-constitutional action", it was important for Mr Chavez "to address the reasons why there was so much turmoil on the streets". He repeated past criticisms of the Venezuelan president for interfering with freedom of the press. But he said the US remained prepared to work with any government in the region that tried to "rout out terror". Colombia has had a turbulent relationship with Venezuela throughout the Chavez era. Bogota accused Venezuela of meddling in Mr Pastrana's peace strategy; peace talks collapsed in February. www.ft.com/colombia www.ft.com/venezuela --------------------------- ANTI-NATO INFORMATION LIST ==^================================================================ This email was sent to: archive@jab.org EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://topica.com/u/?a84x2u.a9617B Or send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] T O P I C A -- Register now to manage your mail! http://www.topica.com/partner/tag02/register ==^================================================================
