Rice: Brazil-Colombia
Border Must Not Be
Hiding Place For
Terrorists
U.S. Secretary of State
Condoleezza Rice said on
Thursday in Brasilia,
Brazil's capital, that
the country's border
with Colombia must not
be a "hiding place" for
members of the
Revolutionary Armed
Forces of Colombia (FARC).
"The borders must not be
used as hiding places
for terrorists that will
later on kill innocent
civilians," said Rice at
a press conference after
talks with Brazil's
president and foreign
minister.
The top U.S. diplomat
praised Brazil and other
South American countries
for their efforts to
resolve the diplomatic
crisis triggered by
Colombia's intrusion
into Ecuador to attack
FARC rebels.
Brazilian President Luiz
Inacio Lula da Silva
suggested the creation
of a mechanism to solve
diplomatic impasses in
South America.
Rice said the United
States supports regional
cooperation, stressing
that she trusted in
"Brazil's leadership" in
the region.
In addition, Rice said
that the United States
supports reforms to the
United Nations Security
Council, as it has been
the same since 1945, and
"the world has changed a
lot" over that period.
She highlighted the
Brazilian military
mission as UN
peacekeepers in Haiti,
but did not made any
specific comment on the
country's intention to
run for a permanent seat
at the council.
During her visit to
Brazil, Rice signed a
cooperation agreement
against racial
discrimination, which
creates a workgroup
comprising members from
both countries.
On Friday, Rice is to
leave for Chile to meet
Chilean President
Michelle Bachelet.
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