- Title: SPAIN: Zapatero says Venezuela could improve cooperation on ETA extradition
- Date: 11th April 2011
- Summary: MADRID, SPAIN (APRIL 11, 2011) (REUTERS) ZAPATERO COMING OUT OF MONCLOA PALACE SANTOS COMING OUT OF CAR AND GREETING ZAPATERO SANTOS AND ZAPATERO SHAKING HANDS SANTOS AND ZAPATERO ENTERING MONCLOA PALACE VARIOUS SANTOS AND ZAPATERO MEETING MEDIA/SANTOS AND ZAPATERO ZAPATERO AND SANTOS ZAPATERO AND SANTOS COMING OUT FOR NEWS CONFERENCE CAMERAMAN (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) SPANISH PRIME MINISTER, JOSE LUIS RODRIGUEZ ZAPATERO, SAYING: "Of course we are always telling the government of Venezuela to apply their maximum cooperation regarding the citizens in their country that may be collaborating with ETA, FARC, ETA. We will continue to pressure and I insist that that the collaboration be fruitful." NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) COLOMBIAN PRESIDENT, JUAN MANUEL SANTOS, SAYING: "President Chavez has said and ratified to me in our meeting last Saturday that he will not permit the presence of any terrorist group in his territory and I am sure if there is any precise signal, I hope he will cooperate." CAMERAMAN (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) JOSE LUIS RODRIGUEZ ZAPATERO, SAYING: "First, I wish for the quick recovery of the gendarme and, second, thank France and the French police for the detention, I stress detention, because that has been the result of what has happened in France, in terms of these relevant ETA members." CAMERAMAN (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) JUAN MANUEL SANTOS, SAYING: "Spanish investment in Colombia is already very important and what we now see is a good opportunity to increase it. Colombia's economy is growing at a respectable rate, we think this year growth will be 5%, but to maintain that rate we need to improve competitiveness and there Spanish companies can help us reach that goal." CAMERAMAN (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) JUAN MANUEL SANTOS, SAYING: "Judge Baltazar Garzon was very important for Colombia to validate internationally the process to apply the principles of justice, truth and reparation that allowed us to demobilize over 30,000 members of paramilitary groups. I think that has never happened in the world and that's why we have evaluated positively the possibility that Judge Baltazar Garzon continue to advise us on issues which he is particularly knowledgeable." PHOTOGRAPHER SANTOS AND ZAPATERO SHAKE HANDS AND LEAVE
- Embargoed: 26th April 2011 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Spain, Spain
- Country: Spain
- Topics: International Relations
- Reuters ID: LVABYZL1F0996UY29V7DCPHQKNL2
- Story Text: Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero said on Monday (April 11) that Venezuela could always improve their collaboration with Spain in terms of extraditing or even trying a member of the Basque separatist group ETA, and vowed to continue to exert pressure on the government of Hugo Chavez.
"Of course we are always telling the government of Venezuela to apply their maximum cooperation regarding the citizens in their country that may be collaborating with ETA, FARC, ETA. We will continue to pressure and I insist that that the collaboration be fruitful," said Zapatero at joint news conference with Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos who is on his first official visit to Spain.
Arturo Cubillas, who is in Venezuela, allegedly facilitated collaboration between ETA and Colombian guerrilla group FARC. Since 2007 Cubillas has been working as head of security for National Land Institute (INTI), which is linked to the Venezuelan government, Spanish media reported.
Santos has offered intervene on Spain's behalf after Chavez re-assurances from the Venezuelan president last Saturday (April 9).
"President Chavez has said and ratified to me in our meeting last Saturday that he will not permit the presence of any terrorist group in his territory and I am sure if there is any precise signal, I hope he will cooperate," Santos said.
Security issues are paramount for both Spain and Colombia, countries which have been subjects of attacks by FARC and ETA respectively.
French police captured a couple of suspected members of Basque separatist group on Sunday (April 10) after a checkpoint shootout and overnight sweep by hundreds of police and helicopters in the Creuse region of central France. One policeman was injured.
"First, I wish for the quick recovery of the gendarme and, second, thank France and the French police for the detention, I stress detention, because that has been the result of what has happened in France, in terms of these relevant ETA members," Zapatero said.
Santos is in Spain to drum up investment for Colombia and will head to Germany on Tuesday (April 12) to continue to seek business deals in the energy, infrastructure and agriculture sectors.
"Spanish investment in Colombia is already very important and what we now see is a good opportunity to increase it. Colombia's economy is growing at a respectable rate, we think this year growth will be 5%, but to maintain that rate we need to improve competitiveness and there Spanish companies can help us reach that goal," the Colombian president said.
Santos also reiterated his commitment to working with Spanish Judge Baltazar Garzon.
"Judge Baltazar Garzon was very important for Colombia to validate internationally the process to apply the principles of justice, truth and reparation that allowed us to demobilize over 30,000 members of paramilitary groups," the Colombian leader said. "I think that has never happened in the world and that's why we have evaluated positively the possibility that Judge Baltazar Garzon continue to advise us on issues which he is particularly knowledgeable."
Garzon, known for his cross-border work trying suspects of crimes against humanity like Chilean General Augusto Pinochet, is indicted himself in Spain - on Monday for a second time - for ordering prisoners and their lawyers to be wiretapped. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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