.- The secretary general of the Colombian Bishops’ Conference, Bishop Juan Vicente Cordoba, said a meeting is being planned between the episcopates of Ecuador, Venezuela and Colombia in order to find solutions to the tensions that exists between the three countries.
Speaking on local television, the bishop said, “The idea is to listen to each other, to offer alternatives and suggestions and to talk, with the hope for something to bring the three countries together (…) with a pro-active vision towards the future.”
“The theme will be, what can we do to unite our three presidents, countries and peoples…whatever the Church can do to facilitate dialogue,” he said.
Relations between Colombia and Venezuela have reached an impasse in recent weeks, with Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez threatening to sever ties with Colombia over its agreement to allow U.S. troops to formally operate in the country. Chavez's ideological partner, President Rafael Correa of Ecuador, has also expressed his disapproval of the move.
The meeting could take place in Bogota, but no site has been chosen as of yet.
