Cancun , Mexico ( CNN ) -- Latin American and Caribbean leaders meeting in Mexico approved the creation of a regional organization Tuesday that leaves out the United States and Canada . Approval for the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States came from heads of state attending the final session of a two-day `` Unity Summit '' near the Mexican beach resort of Cancun . More than 30 heads of state attended the meeting hosted by Mexican President Felipe Calderon . Creation of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States , which would bring together the region 's 33 countries , was a top item on the agenda . Some leaders see it as an attempt to counterbalance the Organization of American States , in which the United States and Canada are members . The pledges of unity came one day after Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez and Colombian President Alvaro Uribe got into a shouting match at a private luncheon for the heads of state . Tensions cooled Tuesday , with both nations saying they are willing to work within the framework of the new agreement to improve relations . In an exclusive interview with CNN en Español 's Carmen Aristegui , Chavez gave his version of the headline-grabbing incident . `` What I did was respond . ( Uribe ) could not stand my reasoning and exploded , '' Chavez said . `` He said harsh things , I said harsh things , and then Raul Castro came and Calderon came and we sat down and talked , and continued . '' Uribe had accused Chavez of enforcing an economic embargo on many Colombian goods , something that Chavez denied . `` I think that if the table had n't been there as an obstacle , and our friends were n't sitting right there , that President Uribe physically would 've attacked me , '' Chavez said . `` If this unfortunate incident served as catharsis for Uribe , and he can sleep well tonight because he told me what he wanted to tell me , then may he sleep peacefully . I am willing to speak with him , just like we have talked about a million times . '' Published reports Tuesday in major newspapers in Colombia , Argentina , Spain and other nations said Uribe told Chavez to `` be a man , '' to which the Venezuelan leader replied `` go to hell , '' something that Chavez confirmed to Aristegui . In the interview , Chavez also addressed the creation of the new regional community and speculation that its addition may compete with the OAS . `` I think that it will be in addition to the OAS , and that the OAS will disappear in the future , '' Chavez said . The importance of the new organization , he said , is that it allows the region to work together without the overbearing influence of the United States . Referring to the United States , Chavez said , `` The 'gringo ' empire has always wanted us to be at odds , divided , to impede what has started here , which I think is the most important : true integration from Mexico to Argentina . '' The two nations have had poor relations for years , but they worsened last year when Uribe signed an agreement with the United States to allow the U.S. military to use some Colombian bases . Tensions have escalated as the countries have accused each other of attempts to destabilize the other . Colombia has said Chavez 's government aids Marxist guerrillas waging war on Colombia , particularly the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia , known as the FARC . Colombia bombed a FARC stronghold in Ecuador in March 2008 , prompting Chavez to take Ecuador 's side and move tanks to Venezuela 's border with Colombia . Chavez also took economic and trade measures against Colombia that Uribe likened to an embargo at Monday 's heated luncheon . Chavez , in turn , has accused Colombia of sending unmanned planes to spy on Venezuela . Monday 's confrontation was not the first time in recent years that Chavez has had a run-in with a foreign leader . `` Why do n't you shut up ? '' Spanish King Juan Carlos asked Chavez during an Ibero-American summit in Chile in November 2007 . Chavez had been criticizing former Spanish Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar , calling him a fascist several times . In September 2006 , Chavez referred to then-U.S. President George W. Bush as the devil during a speech before the United Nations General Assembly . `` The devil came here yesterday , '' Chavez told U.N. delegates and world leaders . `` It still smells of sulfur today . '' CNN Senior Latin American Affairs Editor Rafael Romo contributed to this report .
Leaders of 33 Latin , Caribbean nations form Americas bloc that excludes U.S. , Canada . Formation of group seen as attempt to counterbalance Organization of American States . Venezuela 's Chavez recounts shouting match with Colombian president . Cuban President Raul Castro had to intervene to stop the verbal fight .