BOGOTA, June 4 (Xinhua) -- Colombian Defense Minister Juan Carlos Pinzon said on Tuesday that his country wants to become a " partner" of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), not a full member as reported earlier.
Pinzon's clarification was made after several of its South American neighbors questioned Bogota's decision to seek NATO entry.
"There are countries that become partners in matters of cooperation, that is what Colombia has been pursuing ... Colombia cannot be a member of NATO," said Pinzon, who added Colombia is taking "steps along the required path to become a partner in cooperation."
According to a press release from his ministry, Pinzon admitted that the statement (by the president earlier) lacked accuracy and explained that Colombia only wants to become a NATO "partner," not a member, because Colombia has much to contribute to the alliance, noting that countries such as Japan, Australia and New Zealand are NATO "partners."
Last Saturday, Colombia's President Juan Manuel Santos made a statement that his country would sign a cooperation agreement with an eye towards entering NATO.
Following Santos' statement, Venezuela and Bolivia had called for an "emergency" meeting of Unasur (Union of South American Nations) Security Council to analyze Colombia's move.
Unasur Secretary General Ali Rodriguez affirmed that if Colombia just wants to be a NATO partner, it won't be necessary to convene a meeting of the bloc's heads of state.
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