Venezuela could change its decision to withdraw from the Community of Andean Nations (CAN) if neighboring Colombia and Peru were willing to reconsider their free trade deals with the United States, President Hugo Chavez said on Monday.

"I would be willing to reconsider out decision if Colombia and Peru reconsider their free trade agreements with the United States," Chavez told a news conference after receiving a letter from Bolivian President Evo Morales, who asked him to reconsider his stance.

Last week, Chavez said that Venezuela would leave CAN, saying that it had been fatally wounded by the Colombian and Peruvian free trade agreements with Washington.

Chavez said he would be willing to deal with the matter shortly in a meeting with CAN presidents.

If a member of the Common Market of the South (Mercosur) were to sign a free trade deal with the United States with similar terms, that organization would be dead too, the president added.

Fortunately, Mercosur members have no such plans, Chavez said

Venezuela has also been moving to become a full member of Mercosur, which includes Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay.

Source: Xinhua