Dutch Foreign Minister Maxime Verhagen has summoned the Venezuelan ambassador to provide an explanation of statements made by President Hugo Chávez [2] at the Copenhagen summit [3], where he accused the Netherlands [4] of colluding with the United States against his nation by allowing military access to the Dutch Antilles. Verhagen denied that there is any aggression plot against Venezuela. (Radio Netherlands [5], Dec. 18)
In his comments, Chávez said the US is militarizing Curaçao [6], Aruba and Bonaire in preparation for aggression against his country. "They are three islands in Venezuela's territorial waters, but they are still under an imperial regime: the Netherlands," the populist president said. "Europe should know that the North American empire is filling these islands with weapons, assassins, American intelligence units, and spy planes and warships."
In Washington, State Department spokesman Ian Kelly also denied any hostile intentions against Venezuela. "These allegations are baseless. These are routine exercises. We seek cooperation with the region," Kelly said. (AP [7], Dec. 18)
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