Western Hemisphere
The Venezuelan government has not commented publicly on the mediation of the Dominican Republic to improve relations with Colombia.

Meanwhile, Colombia's Foreign Ministry issued late on Tuesday a statement in which the government of Álvaro Uribe praised the mediation of Dominican President Leonel Fernández, and confirmed its willingness to hold talks with Caracas.

"Colombia reiterates its willingness to hold talks with Venezuela within a framework of respect and without affecting national dignity. It also appreciates the facilitation offered by the Group of Friends and confirms its willingness to make progress through this mechanism," the government of Colombia said in the statement.

For his part, the Dominican minister of the Presidency, César Pina Toribio, said on Wednesday to the Dominican newspaper Listín that there is no reason to think that the relation between the Caribbean nation and Venezuela may be affected by the mediation efforts carried out by President Leonel Fernández in the impasse between Venezuela and Colombia.

He stressed that President Fernández did not nominate himself to be a mediator. On the contrary, he was proposed as mediator by the leaders of the summit held recently in the Mexican resort of Cancun.

Translated by Gerardo Cárdenas

Reyes Theis
EL UNIVERSAL