Political row erupts between Spain and Venezuela

PUBLISHED: March 2, 2010 at 11:59 am • LAST EDITED: March 3, 2010 at 11:41 am
Andalucia, National News • 1 Comments

• FURY: Accusations by Spanish judge have sparked flare up between Zapatero (left) and Chavez

A POLITICAL row has erupted between Spain and Venezuela over accusations that Hugo Chavez’s government “co-operated” with Eta.

Spanish judge Eloy Velasco criticised Venezuela for its association with the Basque terrorist group as well as a Columbian guerrilla group (Farc).

“There is evidence in this case which shows the Venezuelan government’s co-operation in the illegal association between Farc and Eta.”

Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Zapatero has now demanded an immediate explanation from Venezuelan officials following the controversial allegations.

“There is evidence in this case which shows the Venezuelan government’s co-operation in the illegal association between Farc and Eta,” said investigating magistrate Velasco.

The remarks prompted Venezuelan government to respond with a bristling statement.

Velasco was criticised for making “unacceptable allegations of a politically motivated nature, against the government of Venezuela”.

The statement also accused the Spanish judge of referring to Chavez in a “disrespectful fashion”.

However, Zapatero confirmed that Spain is still awaiting an explanation for the terrorist-link revelations.

“The government of Spain will decide what to do when it receives that explanation,” said the Spanish Prime Minister.

Magistrate Velasco had previously named Venezuelan diplomat Arturo Cubillas – an alleged Eta member who works in Venezuela’s ministry of agriculture – as the link man with Farc.

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Paul

March 2nd, 2010 5:24 pm

Nice to see Zapateros cage getting rattled for a change when normally he doesn’t give a toss about how he or his Spanish officials treat others and YES I am particularly referring to his permitting all the “tramposos” to continue their corruption and tricks in the Regional Offices and Local Councils to do with Urbanisation etc? Not that I’ve got ANY time at all for that Venezuelan Pig Chaves, who looks like he is one generation removed from something that swings from a tree in the Jungle, apologies to all families of Simians.

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