The presidents of Colombia, Ecuador and Venezuela agreed Friday to resolve their angry recriminations over a cross-border Colombian commando raid, a crisis that has brought troop movements and talk of war.
The uneasy neighbors joined in a declaration noting that Colombian President Alvaro Uribe apologized for the last weekend's attack on a Colombian rebel base in Ecuadorean territory and that he pledged not to violate another nation's sovereignty again.
The declaration signed by presidents of the 20-nation Rio Group also reiterated a commitment to fight threats to national stability posed by "irregular or criminal groups".
Their emergency summit was an hours-long passion play, with finger-jabbing lectures, furious speeches and pleas for goodwill.
The dramatic high point came when the host, Dominican President Leonel Fernandez, urged Uribe to shake hands with his antagonists to show his goodwill. Uribe then marched around the table and shared stiff handshakes with Ecuador's Rafael Correa and Venezuela's Hugo Chavez.
Correa appealed to Uribe to respect their border and never again act unilaterally to send troops into his territory to attack a rebel camp. If such an act is justified, then no border will be safe, Correa said, drawing perhaps the day's loudest applause.
The showdown underscored Latin America's swerve to the left in recent years – and the increasing isolation of Colombia's center-right government, which is Washington's strongest ally in the region.
Correa, Chavez and Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega, all leftists opposed to US foreign policies, were the most strident in confronting Uribe. But even centrist leaders lectured Uribe about the need to honor territorial sovereignty and the rule of law.
