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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Rice talks trade on Colombia trip | Rice talks trade on Colombia trip |
| (2 days later) | |
| US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has been meeting Colombian President Alvaro Uribe at the end of a trip to promote a free trade pact. | US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has been meeting Colombian President Alvaro Uribe at the end of a trip to promote a free trade pact. |
| President Uribe said the pact was "an important step for there to be more investment in Colombia". | President Uribe said the pact was "an important step for there to be more investment in Colombia". |
| But the Democrat-controlled US Congress has so far refused to approve the deal. | But the Democrat-controlled US Congress has so far refused to approve the deal. |
| Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said the US and Colombia were plotting "military aggression" against his country, but provided no evidence. | Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said the US and Colombia were plotting "military aggression" against his country, but provided no evidence. |
| The Venezuelan leader said that this was the real reason for Ms Rice's visit to Colombia, which he called a "pawn of the North American empire". | The Venezuelan leader said that this was the real reason for Ms Rice's visit to Colombia, which he called a "pawn of the North American empire". |
| Mr Chavez said it would be "very difficult" for Venezuela to normalize relations with Colombia amid diplomatic tensions with Mr Uribe's government. | Mr Chavez said it would be "very difficult" for Venezuela to normalize relations with Colombia amid diplomatic tensions with Mr Uribe's government. |
| 'Violent reputation' | 'Violent reputation' |
| President Uribe said that the international links a trade deal with the US would bring were important for Colombian workers' security. | President Uribe said that the international links a trade deal with the US would bring were important for Colombian workers' security. |
| "The more that the country is integrated with the international community, the more that the rights of workers will be respected, and the greater the opportunities for workers," he said. | "The more that the country is integrated with the international community, the more that the rights of workers will be respected, and the greater the opportunities for workers," he said. |
| "If the country isolates itself and does not advance in matters of trade, it will be harder for workers' rights to be respected." | "If the country isolates itself and does not advance in matters of trade, it will be harder for workers' rights to be respected." |
| For US President George W Bush, Democratic support in Congress is vital if the free trade deal is to come into effect. | For US President George W Bush, Democratic support in Congress is vital if the free trade deal is to come into effect. |
| Colombia is doing the right thing after many years of conflict Condoleezza Rice | Colombia is doing the right thing after many years of conflict Condoleezza Rice |
| But the Democrats have so far refused to back the pact, citing concerns about Colombia's human rights record and government officials' alleged links with right-wing militias. | But the Democrats have so far refused to back the pact, citing concerns about Colombia's human rights record and government officials' alleged links with right-wing militias. |
| One member of a group of Democrats from the House of Representatives who travelled with Ms Rice said: "You can't allow that to go unanswered." | One member of a group of Democrats from the House of Representatives who travelled with Ms Rice said: "You can't allow that to go unanswered." |
| "It's not a question of the rightness or wrongness of the free trade agreement," said David Scott of Georgia. | "It's not a question of the rightness or wrongness of the free trade agreement," said David Scott of Georgia. |
| "The question is: Can you get the votes in the Congress when you have such a violent reputation?" | "The question is: Can you get the votes in the Congress when you have such a violent reputation?" |
| But the White House says Colombia has made great gains in the war on drugs and terrorism. | But the White House says Colombia has made great gains in the war on drugs and terrorism. |
| Earlier, Ms Rice met former left-wing guerrillas and former members of the country's right-wing paramilitary groups who have been reincorporated into society after laying down their weapons. | Earlier, Ms Rice met former left-wing guerrillas and former members of the country's right-wing paramilitary groups who have been reincorporated into society after laying down their weapons. |
| After meeting President Uribe, Ms Rice denied that the US administration is pushing the free trade pact as a way of countering the influence of regional rival Venezuela. | |
| "There's no ideological test for our friends," she said. | "There's no ideological test for our friends," she said. |
| She said she wanted "to make clear.... that Colombia is doing the right thing after many years of conflict". | She said she wanted "to make clear.... that Colombia is doing the right thing after many years of conflict". |
| However, many US Democrats and trade unionists remain unconvinced, with Jeff Vogt, a global economic policy specialist with the AFL-CIO, speaking of "deep-rooted concerns about continuing violence". | However, many US Democrats and trade unionists remain unconvinced, with Jeff Vogt, a global economic policy specialist with the AFL-CIO, speaking of "deep-rooted concerns about continuing violence". |
| The AFL-CIO is the largest US labour group and a key support of the Democratic Party. | The AFL-CIO is the largest US labour group and a key support of the Democratic Party. |
| The BBC's Jeremy McDermott in Medellin it will remains to be seen whether a US Congress, more interested in the current fight for presidential nominees and this year's elections, will be won over by Ms Rice's arguments. | The BBC's Jeremy McDermott in Medellin it will remains to be seen whether a US Congress, more interested in the current fight for presidential nominees and this year's elections, will be won over by Ms Rice's arguments. |