U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Wednesday she hoped the meeting between the leaders of Colombia and Venezuela will help to resolve the long-standing issues between the two South American neighbors. Clinton's comments came after new President Juan Manuel Santos of Colombia, a U.S. ally, hosted meetings Tuesday with his Venezuelan counterpart, President Hugo Chavez. “We hope this outreach by President Santos and the reception by President Chavez leads to some positive resolution of the longstanding issues,” Clinton told reporters as she met with visiting Argentinean Foreign Minister Hector Timerman, “The United States appreciates the constructive, positive role that Argentina is playing in encouraging a peaceful resolution of the issues between Colombia and Venezuela,” the top U.S. diplomat added. Meeting in Colombia's Caribbean coast city of Santa Marta, Santos and Chavez agreed to restore diplomatic relations.
