January 19, 2005 -- Venezuelan Foreign Minister Ali Rodriguez Araque brushes aside talk of a rupture in diplomatic relations between his country and Colombia over the kidnap of Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) leader, Rodrigo Granda just before Christmas.

Rodriguez Araque says both countries are debating the situation and the moment will come for an agreement to recover the positive rhythm that relations had been experiencing last year.

The economy between the two countries especially in the border areas has suffered as a result of the impasse but Rodriguez Araque is confident that the situation will shortly return to normal.

The Minister has welcomed as positive the invitation from Brazilian President Lula da Silva to mediate in the conflict ... Mexican President Fox has also offered his services.

Meanwhile, the Venezuelan National Assembly (AN) has postponed its debate on the kidnap with the opposition going OT on the presence of FARC members in Venezuela.

Accion Democratica (AD) parliamentary leader, Henry Ramos Allup condemns the violation of Venezuelan national sovereignty by Colombian secret police and what he calls the violation of sovereignty by FARC leaders, allegedly granted Venezuelan citizenship.

Yesterday, Condolezza Rice appeared before a US Senate committee to seek approval as President George W. Bush's new Secretary of State ... she described the Venezuelan government as a negative force in the region as regards relations with neighboring countries for its close ties with Cuba and suppression of the opposition.

Most European media have failed to mention Rice's comments on the Chavez Frias' regime, concentrating instead on her diplomatic promises for the Middle East and condemnation of "outposts of tyranny," Iran and Korea and Cuba.

The crux of the diplomatic incident seems to center on 2 diametrically opposed visions of Latin America's future with Colombia representing US interests in the region and Venezuela proposing an alternative and independent union.

Brazil and other countries are ambiguously in the middle, vacillating between the two proposals. Brazilian President Lula Da Silva himself is caught between supporters urging him to follow President Chavez Frias' radical agricultural policy and US and traditional market sectors insisting on Brazil's role as a continental leader.