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LATIN AMERICA |
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Venezuela’s Chavez Calls Colombia’s Uribe a
“Mobster”
CARACAS – Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez
called his Colombian counterpart, Alvaro
Uribe, a “mobster” and said there was no
possibility of dialogue with the
“treasonous” government in Bogota.
“I have nothing to say to the mobster Uribe,
because I know that he’s seeking contact. He
will have to ask it of the king of Spain or
friendly governments, but there’s nothing to
talk about with that traitorous government,”
Chavez said on Saturday.
“Uribe isn’t a politician. He comes from the
world of paramilitarism, drug trafficking,
business and shady deals, and he’s capable
of anything. He’s a very dangerous man
because he has no moral or ethical
principles,” the Venezuelan leader said
during an event to symbolically award medals
the so-called “five Cuban heroes” jailed for
spying in the United States.
The insults directed at Uribe were made in
the context of Chavez’s references to the
recently-signed bilateral accord by which
the United States will be able to use
several Colombian military bases.
“Starting now if anyone wants to speak with
the Colombian government, he’ll have to
speak with Washington, which is where the
power is,” Chavez said.
“What must the Yankees know about Uribe to
be able to impose that on him!” Chavez said
after declaring that at the beginning of his
political career, the Colombian leader had
links with the late Medellin drug cartel
leader Pablo Escobar, as well as with
paramilitaries and other “mobsters.”
“He will be considered by history to be a
disgraceful leader who turned his homeland
over to the Yankees,” Chavez said.
Uribe’s public image is being maintained
thanks to the fact that “he’s in bed with
the big communications media of the
oligarchy,” Chavez said.
Last Sunday, Chavez called on Venezuelan
soldiers and civilians who support him to
prepare for war, after warning the
governments of Colombia and the United
States that Venezuelans were “ready for
anything.”
Chavez issued the strong warning after
adopting the view of former Cuban President
Fidel Castro that the United States annexed
Colombia with the treaty the two nations
signed allowing U.S. soldiers to use
military bases in the neighboring South
American country. |
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