Fernandez to chair conciliation between Venezuela and Colombia

posted on: Feb 24 2010 8:34 by Royston. Viewed 374 times.


The president of the Dominican Republic, Leonel Fern�ndez, is to preside over the so-called Group of Friends of Venezuela and Colombia to mediate in the dispute between Venezuela and Colombia that became apparent in the Rio Group Summit, which concluded Tuesday in Mexico's Riviera Maya.

The host of the event, the Mexican president, Felipe Calder�n, announced in a message to the media that Fernandez will chair a group set up to help settle differences between Colombia and Venezuela.

At a luncheon held on Monday, the presidents of Colombia, �lvaro Uribe and Venezuela's Hugo Ch�vez, had a heated exchange over trade between the two countries.

President Calderon, said after the incident, the two countries "agreed to move forward through respectful dialogue" and build  conditions that make it possible to avoid mutual recriminations.

Calderon went onto say that the newly announced creation of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States, was "an important step to strengthen communication and understanding in our region."