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LATIN AMERICA |
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Venezuela Reorganizes Armed Forces for
Defense
CARACAS - Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez
has reorganized the Armed Forces to
guarantee defense in response to the
installation of seven US military bases in
Colombia. "We will not attack anyone. We are
only preparing to defend ourselves," Chavez
assured during a speech to a mass
demonstration in Caracas condemning the
referred war enclaves.
The president assured that this
modernization and broadening of equipment
"is according to our capacities and
necessities."
"We are going to prepare great soldiers. We
are going to strengthen defensive capacity,"
explained the president.
Chavez made these public statements within
the context of the provocation of the
agreement between Bogota and Washington last
October 30 that allows the United States use
of at least seven military bases.
According to the document signed it
authorizes 800 soldiers and 600 alleged
contractors with the United States who will
have diplomatic immunity, thereby not forced
to obey Colombian laws.
The Venezuelan government froze economic
relations with Colombia in July 28 in answer
to the threat for Venezuela and the region
of the US-Colombian agreement. |
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