Colombia Reports

The Colombian government wants a debate with Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega before the permanent council of the Organization of American States (OAS). Colombia is angry about “offensive” statements by Ortega about Colombian President Álvaro Uribe and his praise of the FARC, Colombia’s largest rebel group.

Colombia’s Foreign Minister Fernando Araújo said its OAS ambassador will propose the debate Tuesday. He has called for the “informative” debate, so the international community “knows what is happening”. Colombia wants Nicaragua to defend why it called Uribe a terrorist and is openly supporting the FARC.

Uribe accused Nicaragua Sunday of harboring terrorists, after the country offered asylum to three alleged members of the FARC, Colombia wants to prosecute. The three women are survivors of a Colombian attack on the Ecuadorean camp of FARC-commander Raúl Reyes. The attack killed Reyes and more than 20 guerrillas.

Colombia also dreads Ortega’s “continuous expression of appreciation” for deceased FARC-founder ‘Manuel Marulanda’.

“We believe that the proper forum is the permanent council of the OAS. That is why we have instructed our ambassador to the OAS, Camilo Ospina, to forward a discussion about the statements made by President Daniel Ortega, which are offensive to Colombia,” Araújo said.