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| Caribbean-Latin America |
| Tension between Spain, Venezuela over ETA |
| 2010-11-06 |
| (KUNA) -- Spain said Friday it was extremely annoyed by Venezuelan His Excellency President-for-Life, Caudillo of the Bolivarians Hugo Chavez's accusation that Madrid was blaming Caracas for allegedly supporting separatist group ETA. Interior Minister Alfredo Perez Rubalcaba said that Spanish Foreign Minister Trinidad Jiminez had conveyed Madrid's concern and annoyance to Venezuelan Ambassador to Spain and told him that Chavez's statements were "unacceptable and unjustifiable." At a news conference, Rubalcaba said the Spanish government was still keen to continue cooperation with Venezuela to crack down on ETA and capturing all of its outlaws. He said Spain was doing its best to cooperate with Venezuela to "fighting terrorism." Chavez announced earlier today his firm rejection to recent statements by a number of Spanish ministers who were accusing the Venezuelan government of collaborating with ETA and backing its activities in Venezuela, under supervision of one of the officials in the Venezuelan Ministry of Agriculture. Chavez said these accusations were "vague and unust" against the Venezuelan people and government. He said the accusations were an attempt to justify inability of the Spanish government to fighting ETA. Chavez called on the Spanish government and media to stop these "unjust" accusations. Spain had officially asked Venezuela last week to extradite Arturo Cubillas, allegedly accused of having links with ETA. Spain wanted to question Cubillas in Madrid on charges of committing terrorist acts, cooperating with ETA and facilitating the separatist group's mission in Venezuela. Two ETA separatists confessed in the court that they had received military training in Venezuela in 2008. Venezuela refused to hand over Cubillas because he is a Venezuelan citizen. Caracas, however, investigated the incident and Cubillas testified before a court last Wednesday. |
| Posted by:Fred |