Venezuela opens 'peace base' in response to U.S. military plans

HAVANA, September 25 (RIA Novosti) - Venezuela has opened a "peace base" in the Cuban capital Havana as a response to the deployment of U.S. troops in Colombia, Venezuela's ambassador to Cuba said.

"The 'peace base' has only one purpose - to promote the ideas of peace in all possible formats: meetings, conferences, video demonstrations, discussions. It is a kind of response to the deployment of U.S. military bases in South America," Ronald Blanco de la Cruz said on Thursday.

The United States and Colombia have agreed a security treaty under which U.S. troops will be deployed at seven military bases in Colombia as part of efforts to combat international terrorism and drug trafficking.

Colombian authorities insist that the deal, which has yet to be signed, concerns "practical aid" in measures against drug trafficking and domestic insurgents, primarily the leftist guerilla movement the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), but Venezuela sees them as a threat to its national security.

"It is evident for us that the deployment of these bases would bring a lot of trouble to the neighboring countries," the diplomat said.

Similar "peace bases" are already operating on the border between Venezuela and Colombia, in Mexico and in Venezuela's capital, Caracas.