Colombia “cannot take part in the South American Defense Council due to the threats of terrorism,” Cesar Mauricio Velázquez, a spokesman for Colombian President Álvaro Uribe, said during a regional meeting at which 12 countries signed a treaty to create the Union of South American Nations (Unasur).In a statement, Velázquez also said his country “does not oppose the creation of a working group to study the theme.”Earlier this week, Uribe announced his refusal to approve the proposal, made by Brazil, saying the Colombian government is experiencing a difficult time in its fight against the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, the largest rebel group in the country.Such a regional defense body would not offer solutions to Colombia’s problem, he said.After Colombia’s rejection of the defense council, the other eleven Unasur members – Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Ecuador, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Uruguay and Venezuela – agreed to establish a task force to present a revised proposal within three months.
