NewsWhore
03-04-2008, 03:10 PM
The hopes are that diplomacy prevails during this week's Rio Group Summit being held in Santo Domingo. Dominican Foreign Ministry officials say that they are ready to hold the XX Conference of heads of state, during which Haiti is the invited guest. But recent international developments will add some tension to this week's meetings. On Monday it was reported that Colombia had killed FARC (Colombian Armed Revolutionary Forces) leader Luis Edgar Devia (alias Raul Reyes) during unsanctioned raids in Ecuador. It was later revealed, through documents found on a computer, that Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez had been funding FARC action, to the tune of US$300 million, angering many in the region. In the latest reports Venezuela has ordered the expulsion of the Colombian ambassador in Caracas. Both Chavez and Colombian president Alvaro Uribe have confirmed their attendance at the two-day event. As a result of the event, which will be held Thursday and Friday the Foreign Ministry will be closed for any civilian services and anyone traveling around Santo Domingo is warned to stay away from the Foreign Ministry's office due to the traffic restrictions. Parts of George Washington Avenue (the Malecon) will be closed as well Huascar Tejada and Robert Schomburg streets.
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