UNASUR Fails to Reach Full Consensus on U.S. Bases in Colombia

Mérida, September 17th 2009 (Venezuelanalysis.com) - All defence and foreign ministers of South America met yesterday in a Union of South American Nations (UNASUR) meeting to discuss the situation of U.S. use of Colombian bases, and also general regional security measures. The meeting managed to reach consensus on three key proposals but Colombia stalled agreement on two others.

The UNASUR conference, which took place in Quito, Ecuador, was the result of last month's special UNASUR meeting in Argentina where heads of state decided to strengthen South America as a "peace zone" and to hold yesterday's conference to come up with concrete measures to increase trust and security.

Unlike the meeting in August, yesterday's conference was not broadcast live. Coming out of the meeting, the Ecuadorian representatives told the press that the final document consisted of five central points: Exchange of military information, transparency of defence spending, information and consultation about military activities in border areas, consultation and cooperation around unanticipated military action, and fulfilment of previous agreements.

Colombia did not agree that military agreements with countries outside the UNASUR bloc should be approved by it, nor on the demand for real security guarantees for the region's countries regarding the U.S.'s agreement with Colombia to use its bases. Colombia requested time to discuss the issues internally, before approving the final conference document.

The Ecuadorian ministers proposed a further meeting to discuss the points on which consensus was not reached. They will decide the date for that meeting at the end of the United Nations General Assembly next week. However, they stressed the progress that was achieved, including an agreement that countries will hand in all information concerning defence spending over the last five years.

Ecuadorian Foreign Minister Fander Falconi also said the UNASUR meeting was important because they had set up a resolute body to resolve South America's internal problems. He said UNASUR "is newly created and achieving trust entails a process," but it was becoming stronger and could now discuss issues without consulting third party countries.

There was also full support for the idea of increasing efficiency in border control and adopting measures to impede the presence of armed groups in such areas.

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said the aim of the Venezuelan representatives at the meeting had been to continue demanding that the Colombian government tell the truth about the purpose of the increased U.S. presence in Colombia.

Venezuelan Vice President and Minister for Defence Ramon Carrizalez was unsatisfied with the meeting's outcome, and said that Colombia was paralysing UNASUR.

He said that all members of UNASUR except Colombia were in agreement with providing information required to maintain security in the region, saying "trust starts with transparency."

Colombia, he said, "is refusing to hand over information that that would provide a certain transparency... this is creating concern over the true causes of the agreement [with the U.S. for use of its bases]."

Venezuelan Foreign Minister Nicolas Maduro said that as a result of Colombia's ongoing civil war, 4 million Colombians are living in Venezuela. "It's time for a South American alliance for peace in Colombia, instead of an alliance for war, so that no more guns or bombs arrive," he said.

During an inauguration of a public school, Chavez commented on the meeting's outcome. "The Colombian representative had the audacity to excuse themselves for not presenting the document of agreement that they have signed with the United States, saying they couldn't show it because they needed the permission of the U.S government," said Chavez.

Chavez said the Colombian government is isolating itself from UNASUR but applauded that, "for the first time, governments are meeting and demanding that Colombia explain what is in the agreement."

Published on Sep 17th 2009 at 9.08am