Colombia's foreign relations

Colombian officials demand discreetness over peace process

Source: Xinhua http://www.xinhuanet.com/english

Friday, October 19, 2007

Colombian President Alvaro Uribe on Thursday prohibited his officials from making any more public nor private statements regarding Colombia's foreign relations or the peace process with Venezuela.

The ban came after Colombian Defense Minister Juan Manuel Santos said in Spain that Uribe asked Chavez not to make personal propaganda in his efforts to broker a peace deal between the Colombian government and the largest Colombian rebel group -- the Revolutionary Armed Forces (FARC).

Uribe reiterated his support for and confidence in Chavez's active participation in the peace process to accomplish a mutual prisoner swap program between the Colombian government and FARC.

The Colombian government reiterated its willingness to strengthen relations with Venezuela.

Colombia's Foreign Ministry declared that it did not agree with Santos, who has said Colombia's relations with Venezuela were unstable.