Colombia’s Advisory Commission on Foreign Affairs on Monday said it fully supports President Alvaro Uribe and how he deals with Venezuela’s war rhetoric and trade impediments.
Following a meeting with Uribe, Foreign Minister Jaime Bermudez and Defense Minister Gabriel Silva, former President Cesar Gaviria, currently leading the opposition Liberal Party, expressed his support for the President in name of the commission.
Gaviria said he considered it “strange” that neighboring countries have remained quiet over Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez’s war talk and “the economic embargo Venezuela is imposing on Colombia.”
According to the commission, Chavez’ freezing of trade is violating all pending commercial agreements.
The commission consists of former presidents, former foreign ministers and congressmen.
Relations with venezuela worsened after Colombia and the U.S. announced to renew their military cooperation and allow the U.S. to use Colombian military bases for counternarcotics and counterterrorism operations. Venezuela then froze diplomatic relations and threatened with a trade block for Colombian products.