PARAGUAY PROPOSES MEDIATION

jULY 30, 2010
The Paraguayan FM stressed that the inauguration of Colombian president-elect Juan Manuel Santos next August 7 will cause “a new scandal” in depleted Venezuelan-Colombian relations
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Western Hemisphere
Far from taking sides with Venezuela or Colombia, Paraguay will opt for mediation apropos the crisis unleashed between the two countries when Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez resolved to sever ties, Paraguayan Minister of Foreign Affairs Héctor Lacognata said.

In an interview with radio Ñandutí during the visit paid to Asunción by Venezuelan Minister of Foreign Affairs Nicolás Maduro, his Paraguayan colleague explained that instead of "supporting one or another position," his country will reserve the role of "mediation," something that, in his opinion, "will be fundamental in this process," Efe quoted.

Lacognata explained that Maduro submitted to Paraguay a peace plan with Colombia that Caracas will take to the extraordinary meeting of the Union of South American Nations (Unasur), convened for Thursday 29 in Quito by Ecuador, the pro-tempore president, at the request of Venezuela, after breaking relations with Colombia.

The Paraguayan Foreign Minister stressed that the inauguration of Colombian president-elect Juan Manuel Santos next August 7 will cause "a new scandal" in depleted Venezuelan-Colombian relations and insisted on the need of a group of "friends to make room for talks."