30/08/09
Lula insists on guarantees that military bases will only carry out operations in Colombia

Caracas, 28th Aug. ABN. (Jesús Inojosa).- The President of Brazil, Luiz Inácio "Lula" Da Silva, demanded that the governments of the US and Colombia make a commitment that the two countries’ military operations will not extend outside Colombian territory.

During the summit of the Union of South American Nations (Unasur) which is being held in Bariloche, Argentina, the Brazilian leader stated that his government respects other countries’ sovereignty, but made it clear that the countries of South America must protect themselves against possible military attacks on the region.

"We in Brazil respect sovereignty, but we wish to protect ourselves using legal instruments, as a commitment under law, so that in the future if military operations are carried out in a third country’s territory, we can say, hey, they’ve overstepped the mark, and we can take the relevant action”, he explained.

Lula pointed out that the countries bordering Colombia have enormous natural resources, and that the Amazon region belongs to Brazil, “which the superpowers have always considered to be territory belonging to them”.

Concerning this, he proposed that a Unasur meeting be held with the US President Barack Obama, to determine North America’s policy towards the region, and to ask him to sign a document determining that the military action of its forces in Colombia be restricted to that nation’s territory alone.

He also invited the South American countries to join together in the regional organisation to promote the South American Council to Fight Drug Traffic.

The President of Colombia, Álvaro Uribe Vélez, has not stated that since 1952 there have been military bases in his country with US forces present, and they have not yet managed to solve the problem. Lula said "With all due respect, I have to say to you that I believe that this foreign military presence should be reconsidered, and a regional solution sought, such as the South American Council to Fight Drug Traffic.”

Finally, President Lula Da Silva highlighted the importance of Unasur as a mechanism for integration and discussion of the region’s problems.

By: Agencia Bolivariana de Noticias, ABN