US Ambassador to the Organization of American States (OAS) Robert Manzanares found it difficult to understand how a country so devoted to fight drug traffic is simultaneously supporting the rebel Colombian Revolutionary Armed Force (FARC), and urged the Venezuelan government to join an alliance with its neighbors and other countries in the hemisphere to fight narcotics.

Earlier, Venezuelan Ambassador to OAS Jorge Valero took the floor at an extraordinary meeting of the OAS Permanent Council and branded as "a new attack" the recent statements made by the US Drug Czar John Walters that Venezuela failed to make efforts to fight drugs.

Manzanares rebutted Valero's words. "We determinedly reject the claims that the debate about drug flow means an attack," said Manzanares after Valero accused the US anti-drug agency DEA of "interventionist."

The US diplomat also rebuffed the Venezuela's "support" and campaign to "legitimize" the rebel Colombian Revolutionary Armed Forces (FARC). Reference was made to President Hugo Chávez's request to remove the FARC and the guerrilla National Liberation Army (ELN) from the US and European lists of terrorist groups.

"It is important to underscore the role of the FARC. Not only the FARC are a terrorist organization, but they are also an outstanding drug traffic organization," said Manzanares.

"It is hard to understand how a country so devoted to fight drug smuggling is simultaneously supporting the FARC and at the same time is waging a campaign to legitimize a group that has been rejected by everybody."