Spain, Brazil Seek Info on Possible U.S. Bases in Colombia

5) Spain, Brazil Seek Info on Possible U.S. Bases in Colombia
EFE, July 31
http://www.laht.com/article.asp?ArticleId=340428&CategoryId=14090

Brasilia - The foreign ministers of Spain and Brazil on Thursday demanded information about Colombia's plans to establish U.S. bases on its territory, a move that some feel raises the risk of a "militarization" of the region.

Spain's Miguel Angel Moratinos and Brazilian counterpart Celso Amorim expressed their reservations about the effects the military program could have at a press conference within the framework of the Spanish official's visit to Brazil.

The two ministers also called for dialogue between Venezuela and Colombia and agreed to work "to avoid a spiral of misunderstandings" between those two countries.

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez "froze" relations with Colombia and withdrew his diplomatic personnel after the announcement by the government of Alvaro Uribe about a prospective agreement that would allow the stationing of U.S. military personnel at Colombian bases.

Moratinos said that it is necessary to avoid a "process of militarization in Latin America."

He added that Spain had asked for information from the United States and Colombia regarding what he called a "new situation," although he said that it was a "bilateral question."

"What we have is to work so that there is no spiral of misunderstanding and try to get Venezuela and Colombia to return to having a relationship of respect. We have to rebuild confidence," he said.

Moratinos said that during the meeting he held Wednesday with Chavez in Caracas, the Venezuelan leader expressed his "willingness to (engage in) dialogue."

Amorim said that Brazil "has received some explanations from Colombia" about the bases, but he added that "the presence of troops from countries that do not belong to the region is always of concern" and "should be better explained."
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