No subject

March 11, 2008
Letter
The Dispute in the Andes

To the Editor:

The March 6 editorial "Take a Deep Breath" cites "meddling and
manipulation" in the Colombia-Ecuador clash by President Hugo Ch=E1vez,
missing the point of why Venezuela is affected.

The Venezuela-Colombia border is three-quarters the length of the
United States-Mexico frontier, making it one of the longest common
borders in the hemisphere.

Venezuela has already suffered because of the Colombian conflict,
receiving tens of thousands of refugees, and has attempted to stop the
spread of violence through a humanitarian mediation.

Colombia's deadly raid in Ecuador killed Ra=FAl Reyes, the chief
negotiator for both Venezuela and France in hostage talks with the
guerrillas.

President Ch=E1vez is not, as you write, trying to win popularity by
getting involved. Instead, he has put peace in Colombia on the
regional agenda, a cause taken up again over the weekend during the
Rio group meeting, resulting in reconciliation between the three
Andean nations.

Olivia B. Goumbri
Executive Director, Venezuela Information Office
Washington, March 10, 2008