EL ESPECTADOR, April 23, 2023
(Translated by Eunice Gibson, CSN Volunteer Translator)
The President of the United States published a video with his assessment of his meeting with the President of Colombia. Once again, he highlighted Petro’s commitment to defending human rights, and he said that Colombia and the United States would work together in the fight against climate change.
Three days after his meeting with President Gustavo Petro, Joe Biden published a video on his Twitter account, emphasizing the most relevant themes of their conversation. “Thank you for your commitment to taking on climate change and to the promotion of democratic values in the Americas. When Colombia and the United States stand together, there is nothing we can’t accomplish,” Biden said.
In the video, he stressed the moment where he thanked Petro for his work for peace and human rights, He also noted the commitment to invest $500,000,000 in the Amazon Fund, which finances programs to protect the Amazon jungle and halt deforestation in this important ecosystem.
“We are working together to counter the drug traffic and take on the historic level of migration,” says Biden in the recording. Regarding the first point, we should recall that Petro has announced agreements in the search for a new vision of the drug problem. According to President Petro, there are no contradictions in the proposal to increase operations for the interdiction of cocaine and the analysis of the impact of eradication and fumigation with glyphosate.
“As we are beginning the next century of our association, I think we can still do more to deepen and develop our cooperation,” said Biden. In the joint statement by both administrations, they had also highlighted the importance of maintaining diplomatic relations under the principles of friendship, mutual respect, cultural ties, and shared commitment to democracy and human rights.
“As the two oldest democracies in the hemisphere, the United States and Colombia reiterated their commitment to the democratic values they share, including justice, freedom of expression, of association, of the press, religious liberty, and the human rights inherent in all persons,” says the joint statement.
After his meeting with Biden, Petro returned to Colombia to advance the preparations for the summit on the political crisis in Venezuela, which will take place in Bogotá this Tuesday, April 25. During his travel in the United States, President Petro sought support for his proposal to guarantee transparent elections in Venezuela and gradually dismantle the international sanctions against the administration of Nicolás Maduro.