CUMBRE GRUPO DE RIO SANTO DOMINGO - OEA/OAS

IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT THIS IS ABOUT, AND DON'T SPEAK SPANISH... WELL, YOU MAY FIND BRIEF QUOTES THAT I GOT FROM THE BBC SITE; BUT LET ME JUST SAY THAT, THIS EXCHANGES ARE WORTH THE $20/HOUR OF SPANISH LESSONS. A TRULY HISTORIC MOMENT... WHERE EVERYONE WINS IN THE END... OK, PERHAPS THE SAME CAN'T BE SAID FOR UNCLE SAM'S "MANIFEST DESTINY" HEMISPHERIC POLICIES. SORRY DUBYA... NOT THIS TIME.

CUMBRE GRUPO DE RIO SANTO DOMINGO - OEA/OAS

1. SUMMARY IN QUOTES ON URIBE'S DAMMING STATEMENT TO THE VENEZUELAN PRESIDENT, AND MOST DIRECTLY, TO THE ECUADORIAN PRESIDENT.

"I recognize that I didn't tell him about the mission for two reasons: one less important and the other weightier.

"The less important is because it was the sixth mission against Raul Reyes and those missions you never know if they will turn out or not. We had failed in the five missions before.

"The weightier reason, I didn't tell him about the mission because we've never had co-operation on the part of President Correa in the fight against terrorism."

"Regarding your smile, President Correa, I tell you that we have no interest in hiding anything."

"I hope we can return to a dialogue and speak in a more moderate tone."

On Colombia's conflict with groups such as the Farc:

"The struggle to defeat terrorism in Colombia is an autonomous struggle of the Colombian people and it will continue until the moment our country lives in democracy and pluralism."

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2. CORREA RESPONDING (PASSIONATELY) TO URIBE'S ACCUSATIONS, AFTER A BIT OF A VERBAL SCUFFLE BETWEEN THE TWO / RESPUESTA DIRECTA DE CORREA SOBRE LAS ACUSACIONES DE URIBE, DESPUES DE UN PEQUENHO INTERCAMBIO DE BURLAS.

Excerpt from an article in Latin American News Agengy, Prensa Latina: http://www.plenglish.com/article.asp?ID=%7BA65753DA-3B58-4969-9031-9E4D5598E113%7D)&language=EN

In response to Uribe"s speech on Colombia"s armed attack on Ecuador last week, Correa said the Colombian president and his "militaristic policies" were responsible for the crisis his country is going through.

Where is security? Where are the soldiers if you admit that the Colombian guerrillas cross the borders without opposition? wondered the Ecuadorian president.

I cannot accept Uribe"s fallacies; you are guilty because of your militaristic policies, Correa said in reference to the Colombian president"s statements that official personages in Quito are in contact with the Colombian guerrillas.

He recalled that the Colombian guerrilla movement was founded nearly half a century ago, and rebel attacks from Ecuador took place in 2004, when the country was under the dictatorship of Col. Lucio Gutierrez, who was very close to Washington.

He rejected Uribe"s fallacies on behalf of the Ecuadorian armed forces, soldiers and civilians, who have been killed over the past few years, and on behalf of poverty and suffering, Correa stressed.



3. VENEZUELA'S RESPONSE REGARDING COLOMBIAN ACCUSATIONS / CHAVEZ RESPONDIENDOLE A URIBE

ENGLISH BBC SUMMARY: "We still have time to stop a whirlpool which we could regret. Let's stop this... Let's reflect, let's be cool-headed."

On Farc and claims Venezuela supports the group:

"For us, they are not terrorists but insurgent forces, guerrilla forces. First you have to recognise that and then look for a path to peace."

On hostage negotiations:

"President Uribe, let me go look for these people like you let me look for the ones before. And let us form a group of countries, a group of presidents.

"And let us work for a humanitarian agreement... Let's take up the idea again of a group of countries for peace, the Santo Domingo group."

SOURCE: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7284661.stm

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4. ECUADOR'S RESPOND TO COLOMBIA'S ACCUSATION AND DEMANDS FOR APOLOGY AND RECONCILIATION / CORREA RESPONDIENDOLE A URIBE.

BBC SUMMARY: "My dear Dominicans, be very careful. If President Uribe thinks there is a Raul Reyes [the senior Farc figure killed by Colombia] in Santo Domingo he will come in and bomb it. And if he comes out with a computer he will say it's your fault."

"We are the victims not the murderers in this conflict. Finally, yes I do, please, call for respect for the Ecuadorean people.

"I tell you, your insolence is doing more damage to the dignity of the Ecuadoran people than your murderous bombs.

"Stop all these fallacies, stop trying to justify the unjustifiable and openly acknowledge that you have no right to attack Ecuador, that you are lying in what you say. Pledge to never again attack a brother country and dismantle this fallacy about the Farc that not even you believe Mr Uribe."

On claims of links to Farc:

"I cannot accept Uribe's lies. These hands are not tainted with blood."

Before shaking hands with Colombia's Alvaro Uribe:

"With the commitment of never attacking a brother country again and by asking forgiveness, we can consider this very serious incident resolved."

THE CLINCHER IS WHEN THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC'S PRESIDENT FERNANDEZ WRAPS IT ALL UP BY ASKING GROUP HUGS... WICKED... WHY NOT BREAK OUT THE RUM AND MERENGUE MUSIC! THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN THE ONLY WAY THAT THEY COULD HAVE TOPPED WHAT OCCURRED THAT DAY.

SOURCE: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7284661.stm

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