Colombia’s Defense Minister, Gabriel Silva, fiercely rejected
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez’s call to actively stimulate a
Bolivarian movement in Colombia and demanded Chavez to respect
Colombian sovereignty.
In his weekly television broadcast, the Venezuelan leader called on his Information Minister to do “everything necessary” to let the Colombian people know about his policies.
Chavez’s remarks were immediately rejected by Colombia’s ambassador to the OAS, who plans to discuss the matter Wednesday when the inter-American organization meets.
The ambassador was backed the Defense Minister, who stressed his country “demands the same respect” as the Colombian government shows for Chavez’s controversial rule in Venezuela.
According to Silva, Colombia’s democracy is transparent and that in Colombia “ideas aren’t persecuted, radio stations aren’t closed, television networks aren’t persecuted, newspapers aren’t closed and businessmen are not intimidated.” Colombia enjoys “pure freedom”, the Defense Minister added.