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LATIN AMERICA - Monday
31
January 2005
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Presidents of Venezuela,
Colombia to meet over diplomatic
crisis
Venezuelan
President Hugo Chavez said
Sunday that his meeting with
Colombian President Alvaro Uribe
will discuss the diplomatic
crisis between the two countries
to seek a final resolution.
The two presidents will meet on
Thursday in Venezuela to talk
over the diplomatic rift aroused
by the capture of a Colombian
rebel leader.
"The solution, or the turning of
the page on the episode, will
depend on this meeting, " Chavez
said.
Bilateral relations soured after
the alleged arrest of Rodrigo
Granda, foreign relations chief
of Colombia's rebel group, the
Revolutionary Armed forces of
Colombia, in December by
Colombian law-enforcement
personnel.
Venezuela accused Colombia of
abducting Granda on the
Venezuelan soil, while Colombia
insisted the capture took place
within its borders.
Chavez recalled Venezuela's
ambassador from Bogota and froze
diplomatic and commercial
relations with Colombia and
demanded a public apology from
Colombia.
After six weeks of standoff, the
two governments announced on
Friday that they had patched up
their relationship.
Colombian Foreign Minister
Carolina Barco said in an
interview with daily El Tiempo
published on Sunday that "this
is a case similar to two
brothers having a fight, they
hurt each other but once they
take steps they are quickly able
to overcome the problem".
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Illegal weapons overflow in
Argentina
Argentine police
Saturday raided an underground
weapons store under the disguise
of a bar ina suburb of the
capital, confiscating several
illegal weapons and arresting
the shop-owner, local reports
said on Sunday.
This is one of a series of
nationwide police crackdowns on
illegal weapons that flood
Argentina.
During the raid, police seized
10 handguns, several rifles, one
hunting gun and more than 2,300
bullets. By arresting the
shop-owner, the police hope to
trace the criminal organization
behind it, for they believe the
bar is just one point in a chain
renting and selling illegal
weapons.
According to Argentine law,
citizens can legally possess
weapons if a license is first
obtained from the police. Weapon
stores are allowed to sell light
weapons and ammunition with
police permission as well.
People only need to spend about
500 pesos (about 260 US dollars)
for a domestically-made pistol
in any regular weapons store. In
black markets, guns are sold at
even cheaper prices.
Easy access to weapons has led
to a large number of weapons in
private hands, posing a great
threat to social order.
Especially after the financial
crisis in 2001, half of
Argentines have slipped below
the poverty line and public
anger was high as a result of a
freeze on bank deposits and the
abrupt devaluation of the peso,
accompanied by rising inflation.
Armed robbery, kidnapping,
homicide made newspaper
headlines and the crime rate is
rapidly approaching those of
such historically dangerous
neighbors as Colombia, Mexico
and Brazil.
In a vicious circle, more
weapons are bought by
law-abiding citizens to protect
themselves. Statistics from the
Argentine weapons control agency
show that by November 2004,
there are altogether 1.13
million registered guns, with
620,000 license holders.
However, this figure doesn't
include the large number of
illegal weapons, which is
estimated at between 100,000 and
150,000.Large numbers of illegal
weapons are being smuggled in
from neighboring countries as
well.
Since 2004, Argentine police
have launched a series of
crackdowns against illegal
weapons trade throughout the
country. Many illegal stores and
black markets have been closed.
Police are trying to deal with
large-scale criminal
organizations behind illegal
weapon trade.
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