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| Venezuelan President
Hugo Chavez (R) and his Colombian counterpart Alvaro Uribe chat over a
South America map at Miraflores Palace in Caracas February 15.(Reuters) |
CARACAS, Feb. 15 (Xinhuanet) -- Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said Tuesday that his country and Colombia decided to turn a new page by leaving behind the diplomatic crisis originated by the capture of a Colombian rebel leader.
"We have decided to turn the page
in order to work together," said Chavez at a press conference after meeting with
Colombian President Alvaro Uribe, who arrived here Tuesday morning.
Describing the meeting as
constructive, Chavez also announced a full resumption of commercial trade
between the two and declared his commitment to fighting terrorism of any kind.
The two leaders' meeting came
after weeks of tensions over the controversial December capture of Rodrigo
Granda, leader of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), in Caracas
by Colombian agents.
The capture, which Chavez branded
a violation of Venezuela's sovereignty while Colombians said it demonstrated
Venezuela's support for the FARC, sparked the biggest crisis in bilateral
relations in the past decade. Enditem |