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| Version 7 | Version 8 |
|---|---|
| Uribe and Chavez hail 'new era' | Uribe and Chavez hail 'new era' |
| (about 6 hours later) | |
| President Hugo Chavez of Venezuela and his Colombian counterpart Alvaro Uribe say they want to promote closer ties, after months of political tension. | President Hugo Chavez of Venezuela and his Colombian counterpart Alvaro Uribe say they want to promote closer ties, after months of political tension. |
| Speaking after a one-day meeting in Venezuela, Mr Chavez said that a new era of co-operation was dawning. | Speaking after a one-day meeting in Venezuela, Mr Chavez said that a new era of co-operation was dawning. |
| For his part, Mr Uribe said the two countries could resolve their disputes. | For his part, Mr Uribe said the two countries could resolve their disputes. |
| Relations hit their lowest point in March, when Mr Chavez sent troops to the border following a Colombian raid against a rebel camp inside Ecuador. | Relations hit their lowest point in March, when Mr Chavez sent troops to the border following a Colombian raid against a rebel camp inside Ecuador. |
| Analysts say improving links will be of political and economic benefit to both. | Analysts say improving links will be of political and economic benefit to both. |
| Although the two countries are major trading partners, relations have suffered because their two leaders come from opposite ends of the political spectrum. | Although the two countries are major trading partners, relations have suffered because their two leaders come from opposite ends of the political spectrum. |
| 'Turn the page' | |
| Mr Uribe is a right-winger who is a close ally of the United States, while socialist Mr Chavez regularly denounces Washington and has allied himself with Cuba. | Mr Uribe is a right-winger who is a close ally of the United States, while socialist Mr Chavez regularly denounces Washington and has allied himself with Cuba. |
| We said some harsh things, [but] between brothers these things happen Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez class="" href="/1/hi/world/americas/7503106.stm">Latin America's odd couple | |
| The two men also differed sharply over Colombia's Farc rebel group, with Mr Uribe seeking military action against it, while Mr Chavez promoted dialogue with the group. | |
| But the freeing of 15 high-profile Farc hostages - including former presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt - by the Colombian army last week has strengthened Mr Uribe's position, correspondents say. | But the freeing of 15 high-profile Farc hostages - including former presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt - by the Colombian army last week has strengthened Mr Uribe's position, correspondents say. |
| Before meeting Mr Uribe in the northern Venezuelan town of Punto Fijo, Hugo Chavez said he would treat his Colombian counterpart as a "brother". | Before meeting Mr Uribe in the northern Venezuelan town of Punto Fijo, Hugo Chavez said he would treat his Colombian counterpart as a "brother". |
| After their talks, Mr Chavez said: "As of now, a new era begins with Colombia. | |
| "We can completely turn the page on a stormy past. | |
| "We will relaunch our ties, starting on a personal level and then moving on to political, social and economic relations." | |
| Colombia is Venezuela's second-largest trading partner after the United States, and enjoys a trade surplus with its neighbour. | |
| Interdependent | |
| At the height of their dispute earlier this year, Bogota accused President Chavez of funding the Farc - the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia. | At the height of their dispute earlier this year, Bogota accused President Chavez of funding the Farc - the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia. |
| Chavez presented Uribe with a portrait of Latin American hero Simon Bolivar | |
| Mr Chavez denies the claims, saying any contact was related to negotiations to secure the release of hostages it was holding. | Mr Chavez denies the claims, saying any contact was related to negotiations to secure the release of hostages it was holding. |
| President Chavez has distanced himself from the Farc in recent weeks, calling on them to end their campaign of violence. | |
| The BBC's Jeremy McDermott in Colombia says that despite the political differences between their leaders, the two neighbours need to get on for their mutual political and economic health. | The BBC's Jeremy McDermott in Colombia says that despite the political differences between their leaders, the two neighbours need to get on for their mutual political and economic health. |
| Mr Chavez's position on the Farc was not popular in Venezuela and he wants his supporters to do well in November's elections for the National Assembly, our correspondent says. | |
| Mr Uribe is still basking in international praise since the Colombian army freed Ms Betancourt and 14 other prominent hostages from the guerrillas this month, he adds. | Mr Uribe is still basking in international praise since the Colombian army freed Ms Betancourt and 14 other prominent hostages from the guerrillas this month, he adds. |