These were among the issues discussed at the 2nd meeting of the Guyana-Venezuela High Level Bilateral Commission here on Monday and yesterday.

Venezuelan Foreign Minister, Mr. Luis Alfonso Davila Garcia said his country's offer of cooperation between the military forces of Guyana and Venezuela is in the context of strengthening links between the two nations against the trafficking of drugs.

"It is necessary that the Venezuelan proposal be studied in depth," he said at a joint news conference with Guyana's Foreign Minister, Mr. Rudy Insanally.

"We have in previous years had important exchanges in this area," he said, adding that Venezuela is willing to offer cooperation in training, intelligence and other areas so that the two armed forces "can get closer."

Insanally said that cooperation with Venezuela in the military field should not be surprising.

"In today's world, security has many aspects, and the threats to security have many forms - drug trafficking, illicit trafficking in arms, and trans-boundary crime", he said.

"I think it is in the interest of neighbouring countries to coordinate the workings of their law enforcement agencies as well as their armed forces, to see how we can contain these threats," he said.

"I was very pleased to learn from Minister Davila of the new concept we have to follow. We have to have armies now, not to make war, but to make peace and development. And so in that spirit, we will be willing to further the cooperation between our GDF (Guyana Defence Force), and of course Venezuela's," he added.

"Already I know we have interest in taking advantage of some of the courses that are being given at one of the universities in Venezuela, specialising in maritime affairs. All of this will create an atmosphere of mutual trust and confidence that is necessary for building cooperation and eliminating differences between us," Insanally noted.

During the meeting, discussions among a number of sub-committees took place, including those for Trade and Economic Cooperation, Culture, Consular matters and Transportation.

The High Level Bilateral Commission has agreed to set up as soon as possible a technical committee to determine the establishment of a direct road link between the two countries.

The committee will be responsible for, among other things, "bringing to the table the possibilities of its funding", according to Davila.

This proposed road would complement and be in addition to the road between Brazil and Guyana already agreed to in the framework of the Integration of Regional Infrastructure of South America (IRSA) that was adopted during the Summit of the Presidents of South America in Brasilia in September 2000.

At the meeting, Guyana agreed to explore the possibility of entering into an agreement with Venezuela on maritime cooperation in the fight against drugs.

According to the minutes of the meeting signed by Insanally and Davila, Guyana proposed that the areas of cooperation, (exchange of information, training, prevention, treatment and rehabilitation and control and interdiction), which were identified at the last meeting of the working group on drugs, should provide the basis for the future activities of the working group.

The two delegations recognised the importance of regular direct flights between Georgetown and Caracas and noted that the respective private sectors have an interest in providing such a service. It was agreed that the civil aviation authorities of both countries should meet to discuss arrangements to give effect to the establishment of regular air services.

Insanally said the talks were frank and friendly, adding that it was "important to give a new dynamic to our cooperation in the interest of being able to resolve our differences and establish a new climate of understanding and friendship between our two countries."

While in Guyana, Davila met President Bharrat Jagdeo. He said he told the Guyanese Head of State of "the will of the Venezuelan Government to increase its efforts so that we as quickly as possible, can bring together our peoples and our governments".

The Venezuelan delegation also met the Guyanese private sector, informing them that in two weeks, a list of products that could be part of the Guyana/Venezuela Partial Scope Agreement of 1989 should be submitted.

Davila said the agreement needs to be updated in light of the changes in international trade.

Meanwhile, the High Level Bilateral Commission has agreed that arrangements should commence for the visit of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez to Guyana this year.

According to Davila, discussions between the two Presidents on setting a definitive date for the visit could take place possibly at Monterrey, Mexico at the Conference on Financing for Development or at the Rio Group Summit in Costa Rica.