Chrysoula Zacharopoulou, Secretary of State for Development, Francophonie and International Cooperation of France, arrived in Colombia on Tuesday. It is her first stop on a 10-day tour that will take her to several countries in Latin America and the Caribbean.
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In dialogue with EL TIEMPO, Zacharopoulou announced that France “will support the implementation of the National Development Plan with up to 200 million euros per year”, as well as the financing of other projects. She also referred to key issues for both countries, such as peace, relations with Venezuela, and women’s rights.
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Colombia is the first country you visit on this tour of Latin America, why?
Colombia is an essential partner of France. Our political relations are excellent and have strengthened since the arrival of the government of Gustavo Petro, who in fact met President Emmanuel Macron during the Paris Peace Forum last November. He came to Colombia to underline the strength of this relationship in all areas.
One of the central issues on the bilateral agenda is the protection of the environment…
Like the European Union and France, Colombia is ambitious, aware of the climate emergency. His country plans to reduce its emissions by 51 percent by 2030 and has committed to achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. In fact, France has supported the development of this carbon neutrality strategy, making experts available to the Colombian government.
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On the other hand, there is work on ecological transition.
Colombia’s ecological transition can and should be a model for the rest of the region. It is a pride for France to be able to support it. We have been accompanying Colombian policies on climate, preservation of biodiversity and sustainable development for several years. Our development agency, AFD, has invested more than 870 million euros in budget loans and has launched numerous technical cooperation projects to support these reforms.
What projects do you have underway?
France works with cities such as Bogotá, Barranquilla and Medellín to finance green infrastructure. This Wednesday I will sign a new loan of 50 million euros to Barranquilla to support its ecological and social action. Our companies are investing in renewable energy, urban transport and sustainable mobility to accompany the energy transition and promote social inclusion.
Colombia’s ecological transition can and should be a model for the rest of the region. It is a pride for France to be able to support her.
And will there be more funding in the future?
French companies are the first foreign employer in Colombia. Both countries maintain exceptional cooperation in the development and protection of global public goods. In 2021, AFD invested more than 450 million euros in Colombia to support the State, municipalities and the private sector in the ecological transition, support sustainable urban development and promote social inclusion. Now, during this trip, we will announce France’s commitment to support the implementation of Colombia’s national development plan with up to 200 million euros per year.
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Another key point between both countries is peace. How does France see the implementation of the agreement with the Farc?
The 2016 peace agreement is an international model that must be fully implemented. Our embassy has sought to promote it in the French-speaking world, translating part of the report of the Truth Commission into French.
The Petro government is pushing for ‘total peace’. What is France’s position on this and on the dialogues with the ELN and other armed groups?
As President Macron stressed in November, France has supported the peace process in Colombia since its inception and welcomes the Gustavo Petro government’s commitment to “total peace”. We welcome the resumption of negotiations with the ELN, which constitutes very encouraging progress, as well as the start of dialogues with other armed groups and the ceasefire signed with four of them.
We know that another relevant topic on this tour is health. You are a medical doctor. What efforts are sought that point?
Ongoing reforms to improve access to healthcare in Colombia are crucial, and France is willing to support the country, as it is already doing, through loans.
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Food safety will also be discussed.
Yes. Russia’s aggression against Ukraine has caused a sharp increase in the price of cereals and food, which has had a strong impact on Colombia. This aggression has worsened the already deteriorating world food situation after the pandemic. France provides food aid of 500,000 euros a year, in particular for Venezuelan migrants. I know that agriculture is a priority for President Petro. In fact, France supports a large number of sustainable agriculture projects in Colombia, which further contributes to the implementation of the peace agreement.
In the European Parliament you have worked to defend the rights of women and girls in your country, what do you expect to advance on this point with Colombia?
Feminist diplomacy is a priority for France and for President Macron, as is the protection of women’s rights. Together with Mexico, we organized the Generation Equality Forum in Paris, and there historical commitments were made by various countries, including Colombia, which made a commitment to justice and the empowerment of women. France also finances six projects in Colombia through its Support Fund for Feminist Organizations, in particular to combat violence against women and promote their economic autonomy.
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For France, Colombia is one of the countries that can help resolve crises in the region, such as the case of Venezuela. Why?
As a neighboring country, Colombia has strong historical and human ties to Venezuela. The reestablishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries and the reopening of the border in recent months are important events, offering new opportunities for Colombia to play a role in this process. We congratulate Colombia for its solidarity in hosting more than two million Venezuelan refugees. Allow me to point out that the European Union is providing 37 million euros in emergency humanitarian aid to deal with this crisis. On this visit, we are announcing a new seven million euro project, funded by France, to help Venezuelan migrant women.
Precisely on Venezuela, Paris was the scene in November of the dialogues between the Venezuelan opposition and the government of Nicolás Maduro, will the support for this process continue firm?
France does everything possible to promote dialogue between Venezuelan political actors. We want to promote a negotiated solution to the crisis. For this, it is necessary to organize free and democratic presidential and legislative elections, under international observation. President Macron made a commitment by bringing together Chavismo and opposition negotiators at the Paris Peace Forum in November, in the presence of the presidents of Argentina and Colombia. We support the inter-Venezuelan negotiations in Mexico City and we are willing, with our European and regional partners, to accompany them.
WILLIAM MORENO HERNANDEZ
INTERNATIONAL REDACTION
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