Colombia on Thursday demanded fair compensation for its enterprises that have been or are about to be nationalized in Venezuela, in a new twist in the diplomatic and border tension between the two countries.
Colombian Treasury Minister Oscar Zuluaga said Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez's move to nationalize some Colombian enterprises in Venezuela and sell some Venezuelan enterprises in Colombia is a "very delicate" issue.
"We hope Colombian entrepreneurs are paid the enterprises' total value," he said.
Chavez said he would squeeze his country's six-billion-dollar annual trade with Colombia, saying: "We aren't interested in Colombian investments here."
"Of the Colombian businesses that are here in Venezuela, we could nationalize some," he added.
If Venezuela stops trade with Colombia, Colombia's Gross domestic product (GDP) will decrease 1.3 percent in 2008, according to Colombia's treasury minister.
Chavez, a close ally of Ecuadoran President Rafael Correa, froze relations with Colombia and mobilized soldiers, tanks and airplanes toward Venezuela's border with Colombia after Colombia sent troops into Ecuadoran territory to attack Colombian rebels.
Source: Xinhua
|
Comment
Tell A Friend
Print Format
Save Article