Clinton Urges Transparency in Venezuelan Arms Purchases

[rabs]

Transparency is breaking out all over. Well, maybe not transparency but hypocrisy.

Wonder if Hillary will demand of Lula da Silva to be more "transparent" about Brazil's announced purchase of planes, submarines (including a nuclear one) and other systems from France?

UNASUR foreign and defense ministers met for nine hours today in Quito to discuss U.S./Colombian "transparency" in the seven bases accord. Colombia refused to reveal details of the pact, and instead called on all arms purchases agreements by all UNASUR members with foreign government to be made "transparent."

Hillary did not bother to mention U.S. transparency in its pact with Colombia.

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By David Gollust
State Department
15 September 2009


Secretary of State Hillary Clinton Tuesday called for transparency on the part of Venezuela in an arms buildup by the Hugo Chavez government that U.S. officials believe threatens regional stability. Clinton spoke at a meeting with Uruguayan President Tabare Vazquez, who said Latin American governments should combat poverty rather than acquire weapons.

Clinton's comments at a joint press event with the Uruguayan leader were the highest-level expression of U.S. concern thus far about a Venezuelan arms buildup that gained momentum with an announcement this week that the South American state will buy Russian battle tanks and anti-aircraft missiles.
More

http://www.voanews.com/english/2009-09-15-voa60.cfm
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Venezuela's response:

FM Maduro: Clinton's request is unsubstantiated
Western Hemisphere
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's appeal to the Venezuelan government to be "transparent" as to the purchase of Russian arms "is politically and morally unsupported," said Venezuela's Minister of Foreign Affairs Nicolás Maduro on Friday in Quito.

"We can say that these remarks are just politically and morally unfounded," Maduro told reporters when asked about Clinton's request from Washington, AFP reported.

"We urge Venezuela to be transparent, clear" about the goal of the arms purchases, said Clinton. "We expect to see a change of attitude," the US Secretary of State added.

Maduro said that precisely the United States has plans to deploy seven military bases in South America, making reference to an agreement entered into by Bogotá and Washington to fight against drug traffic and terrorism.

This is among the items in the agenda discussed by the Foreign and Defense Ministers from the member states of the Union of South American Nations (Unasur) in Quito, where they are setting guidelines on security in the region
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Venezuela complains of Colombia for denying information

The Venezuelan government accused Colombia on Tuesday of refusing to report on a military agreement with the United States and promised to disclose the particulars of its deal with Russia on arms purchase.

Both items have raised worldwide concern and are top in the agenda of the Union of South American Nations (Unasur).

According to Venezuela's Vice-President Ramón Carrizález, Bogotá's failure to report on the use of seven Colombian military bases by the United States is a matter of concern for the countries in the region and could put a damper on any agreements on transparency regarding security issues.

"We have seen neither big nor small letters and this, of course, raises concern about the true covenants of such agreement," said Carrizález during a break in the meeting of Defense and Foreign Ministers at Unasur.
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Last two items from El Universal of Caracas.

[IndianaGreen]

1. Venezuela, as a sovereign nation, should tell Hillary to STFU

Latin America is not the US private plantation.

[EFerrari]

2. I want transparency around those seven bases Obama said we're not acquiring. n/t