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Venezuela: US Liable for Andean
Crisis
Venezuela said Wednesday the US
is responsible for the Andean
crisis by sweet talking Colombia
and Peru into signing bilateral
free trade agreements and
negotiating a similar deal with
Ecuador.
Venezuelan Minister for
Integration and Foreign Trade
Gustavo Marquez indicated that
events at the Andean Community
of Nations are not isolated, but
part of a process in which "the
black hand of the empire" has
played a serious role.
Interviewed by the Venezuelan TV
program "En confianza," the
minister pointed out Washington
extorts Andean nations and has
threatened to withdraw some tax
profits if they do not sign the
free trade agreements.
This move, taken after the
failure of the free trade area
of the Americas (FTAA), also
aims to cause divisions within
the Southern Common Market (MERCOSUR),
thus hindering its
consolidation, the official
stressed.
The agreements affect Andean
regulations and give the US 64
percent preference over products
imported by Colombia and Peru,
which is very damaging for
Bolivia, Ecuador, and Venezuela.
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