Spain says Venezuela to help with probe of links with Basque separatists, Colombian rebels
By APTuesday, March 2, 2010
Spain says Venezuela to cooperate with probe
MADRID — Spain’s foreign minister says Venezuela has pledged to cooperate with a Spanish court that accuses the country of collaborating with Basque separatist militants and Colombian rebels.
Miguel Angel Moratinos says he spoke with Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez and Foreign Minister Nicolas Maduro and that both deny the allegations and promise to investigate.
Speaking from Yerevan, Armenia on Tuesday, Moratino says they “committed themselves to cooperate with Spanish authorities to fully clear up this matter.”
Spanish Judge Eloy Velasco on Monday indicted 13 members of the Basque group ETA, and the FARC rebel group for a variety of crimes including plotting to kill former Colombian president Andres Pastrana and the current president, Alvaro Uribe.
Velasco says there is evidence of “Venezuelan governmental cooperation” in the collaboration between the two groups.
