Chile worried about President Chávez' military plan

A military cooperation agreement entered into by Bolivia and Venezuela on the establishment of a base at the border between Bolivia and Chile put the Chilean Foreign Affairs Committee, Chamber of Deputies on the alert. They summoned both the Defense minister and the Foreign minister to brief on the impact of such move, AP reported.

An extensive Sunday report in daily El Mercurio shows the agreement executed last May 26th by Bolivian President Evo Morales and his Venezuelan counterpart Hugo Chávez. According to the story, the agreement provides for the establishment of military bases at the border between Bolivia and Peru, Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina and Chile.

The agreement sets forth improvement and upgrade of defense capabilities of the parties, organization of the armed forces, crisis management and disarmament and arms control.

The deal, a copy of which was gotten by AP ending September, was a matter of concern for Paraguay and Peru. For its part, the Chilean Government just refrained from issuing an opinion about Bolivia's dealings within its borders.

Nonetheless, the Foreign Affairs Committee, Chamber of Deputies, summoned for next Tuesday, October 10th, Defense Minister Vivianne Blanlot and Foreign Minister Alejandro Foxley.

Voting Venezuela would be "unthinkable"
Gutenberg Martínez, Alvear's husband and the chair of the American Christian Democrat Organization (ODCA), viewed as "unconceivable" that President Michelle Bachelet can vote Venezuela's for a temporary seat at the United Nations (UN) Security Council.

"I trust in Ms. President's wisdom. I think that all the arguments have been laid, and the rationale for voting against President Chávez is unbeatable," said Martínez during an interview released Sunday by daily La Tercera.