The Spanish government wants to help "to ease tensions" between Caracas and Bogotá about the use of Colombian bases by US troops, said on Tuesday Juan Pablo de Laiglesia, the Secretary of State for Ibero-America.

The government of Spanish Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero responded this way, the official said, to a request made by Colombia's President Álvaro Uribe. Spain is working to calm down tension between the two Latin American countries and is trying to lead both parties to establish valid mechanisms to mitigate the crisis.

Venezuela froze trade and diplomatic relations with Colombia in August 2009 in protest for the agreement between Bogotá and Washington on the use by US troops of military bases in Colombia, DPA reported.

Relations between the two countries were affected again when President Hugo Chávez urged Venezuelan military and civilians to prepare for war. Venezuela's President then warned that if the United States used Colombia to attack his country, a "war of 100 years" would begin in the region.

On November 14, Chávez ruled out the possibility of keeping talks with Uribe, even if Spain requests it. "I have nothing to say to that government. Even if the king of Spain asks us to meet, there's nothing to talk about with that traitorous government (of Colombia)."

Source:ElUniversal.com