The Dominican Republic Wednesday accepted a request from Colombian President Alvaro Uribe to mediate the conflict between Colombia and Venezuela.
Dominican Republic President Leonel Fernandez agreed to Uribe’s request following a private meeting with the Colombian dignitary at the 19th Ibero-American Summit of heads of state, El Espectador reported.
Fernandez said that the Dominican Republic “because of its geographic position and its friendly relations with its neighbours, has had other opportunities to mediate regional conflicts and seek solutions”.
“We maintain close ties with Cuba and Venezuela but also with Colombia and Panama, with all the countries in the region, which has allowed us to play a mediating role in resolving political conflicts … in the region on various occasions,” Fernandez said.
The Dominican Republic’s head of state would mediate the break down of relations between Colombia and Venezuela following Colombia’s signing of a military pact which grants the U.S. access to Colombian military bases. Venezuela view the pact as a threat to its sovereignty.
Venezuela has not yet responded to the mediation proposal.