Colombia’s former President, Alvaro Uribe, says he never met Venezuelan opposition leader Henrique Capriles who was sued because both allegedly conspired to destabilize their governments’ relationship.
On his Twitter account, Uribe said he had never met Capriles, but would love to talk to him.
Me denuncian por reunión nunca realizada con Candidato Capriles, a quién no conozco, pero con quien espero dialogar en algún momento
— Álvaro Uribe Vélez (@AlvaroUribeVel) May 17, 2013
Uribe’s claim was supported by Primero Colombia, a think tank run by Uribe’s adviser Jose Obdulio Gaviria.
El expresidente @alvarouribevel no conoce personalmente a @hcapriles. No ha estado en ninguna reunión con él. Nunca han hablado.
— Primero Colombia (@PrimeroCoIombia) May 16, 2013
The tweets followed the publication of news that a Colombian lawyer had included Capriles in a lawsuit against Uribe and Gaviria for their alleged attempts to disturb exports to Venezuela and plotting to discredit Uribe’s successor, current President Juan Manuel Santos.
MORE: Venezuelan opposition leader sued in Colombia
According to the filed lawsuit, Capriles was one of the Venezuelan opposition politicians that met with Uribe and Gaviria in November 2011, preceding a visit of Santos to his then-counterpart, the late Hugo Chavez.
Lawyer Aurelio Jimenez says Capriles, Uribe and Gaviria are guilty of endangering Colombia’s national integrity, conspiracy and obstruction of justice. Uribe faces additional charges of treason.
Colombia’s former president, an ideological opponent of the leftist Venezuelan government and its late President Hugo Chavez, has previously been accused by Venezuela of trying to meddle in domestic affairs.