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With the presence of the United States on Colombian soil, issues of binational interest such as migration, the fight against drugs and economic reactivation were discussed. Delegations from other nations that have common interests will join the meeting between the two countries. Blinken also mentioned the need to be held accountable for human rights abuses during the armed conflict.
Colombian President Iván Duque received at the Casa de Nariño the Secretary of State of the United States, Antony Blinken, who arrived this Wednesday to participate in the Ministerial Conference on Migration that brings together the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the Americas to seek solutions to the migratory problem of the continent.
“We will hold a work agenda on issues such as defense of democracy in the region, the migration crisis, the fight against drug trafficking, mitigation of the climate crisis and our policy of Peace with Security,” said Iván Duque.
The visit of @SecBlinken a Colombia is an example of the solidity of our 200-year historical relationship with the United States. Ratifies the joint and permanent work with the President @POTUS, who sees in Colombia a friend and one of the most important allies in the region. pic.twitter.com/gO2saHNBCE
– Iván Duque 🇨🇴 (@IvanDuque) October 20, 2021
The Secretary of State also spoke with the Vice President and Chancellor, Marta Lucía Ramírez, about how to address the migration crisis, explaining that it is necessary to create a group against human trafficking, as well as “the increase in the participation of multilateral banks for the generation of opportunities and development in the region ”. Improvements that, according to him, will make it possible to stop the exodus of migrants.
And is that one of the issues of greatest concern for the governments of Joe Biden and Iván Duque is the current migratory crisis present in all the borders of the Colombian country. As well as the serious situation in Necoclí, where the United States has been quite involved in recent months.
Blinken noted that one of the reasons people leave their home country is because of “a lack of hope that life in their home countries will improve. Often times that is due to a lack of economic opportunity. The United States wants to work with you to change that. “
During his two-day stay in Colombia, Blinken will also be in the new edition of the High Level Dialogue between the United States and Colombia, where topics such as education, culture, sports, environment, climate change and health, energy and infrastructure, democracy, human rights, security, fight against narcotics and rural development.
Blinken spoke about the worrying human rights situation in Colombia
At least 29 people lost their lives in the protests held earlier this year, where thousands of Colombians took to the streets of the country’s main cities to raise their voices against the social and economic policies presented by the Duque government. . Many of the deaths were attributed to excessive use of force by control entities.
That is why Blinken mentioned its concern about the growing violence of armed groups, questioned police action in security situations and the possible resumption of aerial spraying of coca crops.
“Accountability is vitally important: accountability for the gravest human rights violations and abuses committed during the country’s conflict, accountability for abuses in response to this year’s protests, and of course, accountability for those responsible for attacks on human rights defenders, journalists and other civil society leaders, “Blinken said.
For his part, Duque repeatedly said at the meeting that his government has a “zero tolerance” policy for police abuse, but that this will not allow “vandalism or violence against security forces”
Colombia is the United States’ closest ally in Latin America, and the two countries coordinate closely on security matters, especially in the fight against drug trafficking.
On this issue, a few days ago amendments were processed in the US Capitol with the aim that the Biden government can demand detailed reports on the use that is given to the resources that the United States delivers to Colombia. Resources that, in case of finding that the actions do not comply with humanitarian law, will be re-evaluated.
This is his fourth stop in the region after visiting Costa Rica in June, Mexico a week ago and Ecuador two days ago.
The issues of managing the Covid-19 contingency, massacres and violence against social leaders are pending on the agenda of the two nations at a meeting this Thursday, October 21.
With Reuters
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