- Title: Venezuelan FM accuses Colombia's Duque of endangering rebel peace process
- Date: 30th August 2019
- Summary: CARACAS, VENEZUELA (AUGUST 30, 2019) (REUTERS) VENEZUELA'S FOREIGN MINISTER JORGE ARREAZA ARRIVING AT NEWS CONFERENCE VARIOUS OF ARREAZA SPEAKING AT NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) VENEZUELA'S FOREIGN MINISTER, JORGE ARREAZA, SAYING: "It's incredulous that (Colombian President) Ivan Duque, with absolute imprudence and in a despicable act, tries to put the blame on third-party countries and third-party individuals when it is solely his responsibility for dismantling the peace process and breaching commitments that were taken on and signed for by the Colombian state before the world and his people." ARREAZA AT NEWS CONFERENCE SOUNDBITE (Spanish) VENEZUELA'S FOREIGN MINISTER, JORGE ARREAZA, SAYING: "This attitude not only puts at risk the normalisation of public life in Colombia, but it also threatens peace and regional security in South America." ARREAZA AT NEWS CONFERENCE
- Embargoed: 13th September 2019 20:55
- Keywords: Venezuela Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza FARC rebels violence Colombia
- Location: CARACAS, VENEZUELA
- City: CARACAS, VENEZUELA
- Country: Venezuela
- Topics: Diplomacy/Foreign Policy,Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA001AUEVM87
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:Venezuela's Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza on Friday (August 30) accused Colombia's President Ivan Duque of endangering the country's peace process with rebels, after former leaders of the FARC rebel group announced a new offensive.
Former commanders Ivan Marquez and Jesus Santrich on Thursday (August 29) appeared surrounded by armed fighters in a 32-minute YouTube video to launch renewed hostilities against the government, saying the 2016 peace accords have been betrayed.
The announcement was condemned by the government, the United Nations and the FARC political party, whose leadership said the majority of ex-rebels remain committed to peace despite "difficulties and dangers."
Duque has accused Caracas of supporting rebels in the border region between the two countries. But on Friday, Arreaza said sole responsibility for a possible return to armed conflict falls on the Colombian leader.
Nine dissidents formerly of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), including a commander, were killed in a bombing raid in southern Colombia President Ivan Duque said on Friday, the first since former leaders of the group announced a new offensive this week.
More than 260,000 people have been killed and millions displaced during Colombia's decades-long conflict between the government, rebel groups, crime gangs and right-wing paramilitaries. Some 13,000 FARC members, including 7,000 combatants, demobilised under the accord, many joining reintegration efforts or returning home to their families.
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