Venezuela disagrees with Colombia over free trade agreements with USA

Venezuelan Executive Vice President Jose Vicente Rangel has replied to Colombian President Alvaro Uribe's "discrepancy" on free trade agreements with the USA.

The Colombian President argues that it was alright for Venezuela not to enter into a bilateral agreement because it has oil, whereas the Colombian economy needs the agreement with the USA.

* Rangel says Venezuela begs to differ and admits a " cordial discrepancy" with Colombia on the matter of individual free trade agreements.

Venezuela has been calling on individual Latin American countries not to sign in the name of continental integration, stating that the only beneficiaries are US multinationals.

The USA attempted to get a continental free trade agreement signed by 2005 but failed and instead embarked on individual treaties.

Chile was the first country that signed up. Peru is expected to sign on the dotted line shortly, followed by Ecuador despite widespread protests.

President Uribe insists that free trade agreements depend on the characteristics of each country's economy and Venezuela is different because it doesn't need treaties.

Rangel has rejected US President Bush's accusation that the Venezuelan government is lacking in respect towards the institutions and freedoms, quipping that Bush should be questioned, using his own parameters ... "take Guantanamo, tortures, permanent aggressions ... bad example."