Dialogue between Venezuela, Mexico needed to overcome conflict: Ibero-American chief

The differences between Venezuela and Mexico can be overcome if the two nations hold dialogues, said Enrique Iglesias, secretary general of the IberoAmericana, on Wednesday.

"I believe... the friendship between Mexico and Venezuela is very old and very deep, and it will continue. I think this problem can be overcome with dialogue and conversation," Iglesias told a Mexican television station.

The IberoAmericana organizes the yearly meeting of Latin American nations, Spain and Portugal.

"There is a strong tradition of unity in Latin America, which has been rooted in history since independence. There could be mix-ups but they are just brief incidents," Iglesia added.

Mexican President Vicente Fox and his Venezuelan counterpart Hugo Chavez have contrary positions on the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA), a US-backed trade pact that Fox helped to promote at the summit of the Organization of American States, at the start of this month.

When the FTAA failed to come to fruition, Fox made vague criticisms of "countries who blame others for their problems".

Chavez responded with direct criticisms, describing Fox as "a lapdog of the empire" and "the US's schemer."

Mexico and Venezuela recalled their ambassadors later, sending the diplomatic disputes between the two countries to a peak.

Iglesias said that disagreements occur "in the best families" and that includes political families like the IberoAmerican nations.

Iglesias met with Mexican Foreign Minister Ernesto Derbez during a brief visit to Mexico which ended on Wednesday.

Source: Xinhua