Colombia says it had warned Venezuelan authorities “discretely and
diplomatically” about the Swedish rocket launchers that were found in
a FARC camp, before publicly denouncing the find.
Venezuelan Hugo Chavez angrily broke off diplomatic ties with Colombia and threatened to suspend all trade between the countries after Colombia publicized the news that these rocket launchers had come from the Venezuelan army.
But according to the Colombian Presidency, Foreign Minister Jaime Bermudez had met with his Venezuelan counterpart Nicolas Maduro two months ago and handed over evidence to show that rocket launchers came from Venezuela.
“The Colombian government prudently and discretely surrendered [evidence] in order to obtain an explanation from Venezuela. But to date there has been any response. However, we reiterate our permanent willingness for dialogue,” a statement on the Presidency’s website says.
Secretary General of the Organization of American States, Jose Miguel Insulza, Wednesday said he regretted Chavez reaction to Colombia’s denouncement and called on both governments to establish a dialogue.
The relation between Colombia and Venezuela had worsened before the rocket scandal when U.S. and Colombian authorities announced and expansion of U.S. counternarcotic activity from Colombia.