The newly possessed Colombian Chancellor, Laura Sarabiahe arrives in office in the middle of one of the most tensioning moments in diplomatic matters in the history of Colombia. The striking thing about the situation is that it was due to a Choque between President Gustavo Petro and his counterpart, Donald Trump, after the deportations ordered by the Republican, for his antimigration policies.
Sarabia shared his position in writing, responding to a series of questions sent by the Time team, where he was asked about the relations with the country’s largest commercial partner.
The chancellor was asked about the formula to reconcile the decent treatment of Colombian deportees with the need to protect diplomatic relations with the United Statesbefore which, he indicated that the formula is diplomacy and the use of institutional channels. For decades, and even centuries, dialogue and friendship have been the pillar of relations between Colombia and the United States.
“This week there has not been a single day without diplomatic contact and fluid communication with the US governmentin particular with the special envoy of President Trump for Latin America, Mauricio Claver-Carone. From these dialogues, I can assure you that this situation can be reconciled. President Trump has decided, in the exercise of his sovereignty, deporting migrants whose situation has not been regularized“Sarabia added.
Laura Sarabia
Presidency
However, he assured that the Colombian government, meanwhile, “It requires that the return of the nationals be carried out with dignity, under international standards, and without being handcuffed. Therefore, following instructions from President Petro, we assume the logistics of the transfer of our citizens, guaranteeing both their arrival in Colombia and respect for their dignity and rights. We also agreed with Panama that, on the flight scheduled for February 3, our citizens will be transferred without restrictions, except in cases of criminal records or risks to the security of the aircraft. I reiterate it: diplomacy is the key to reconciling differences. All communication effort between Colombia and the United States is focused on finding the best way for the transfer of migrants, either by sea or by air. We will achieve a concerted solution that guarantees its return in decent conditions and with full respect for their human rights“
(See more: Panorama: This was the Colombia-Ee relationship. Uu. After the ‘impasse’ by the deportees)
In the same way, the messages have not stopped being sent or cut since President Trump won the elections. “In fact, in November President Petro sent a letter to the then appointed President Trump to invite him to cooperate on issues that interest us both nations, such as the use of the clean energy potential of Colombia. On the subject of Connationals in the United States, we have reached an agreement in which we will be responsible for the transfer of our citizens in decent conditions. The government of President Petro and the Foreign Ministry honor their agreements and are convinced that diplomacy allows us to reconcile differences”
“The United States can trust a precise and honest dialogue, without double agendas. We understand the challenges involved in the migratory phenomenon. In fact, Colombia has extensive experience in this area, and will continue to ensure that any measure is based and standard“Sarabia said.
On the other hand, the diplomat was asked if the Colombian government is aware that the deported were violating norms from another country and were passing over their regular migration system?, on which he indicated that this statement “It has nuances. Both the UN and President Petro coincide at a fundamental principle: to be in a situation of irregular migration does not turn our citizens into criminals. Migrants have a particular condition and are subjects of special protection. We do not say it, international organizations such as UNHCR, the IOM or the world pact for a safe, orderly and regular migration of the UN Human Rights Office affirm. The only thing we request is the respect of international human rights standards and the dignity of migrants. Countries like Mexico, Brazil and Honduras have requested the same, and the United Nations General Secretariat, in the current context, reiterated that migrants on deportation flights must see their rights guaranteed”
Managing diplomatic relations via X is undoubtedly a risk whose repercussions saw the country this week. The same applies to the statements of both presidents who continue to raise the tone. How will the chancellor handle this noise in the country’s international relationship? On this issue, Sarabia said that social networks “They are today’s public square. Both presidents have a direct speech, and X is the place where they find a direct conversation with people. As Chancellor, I must execute President Petro’s instructions in a professional diplomatic exercise. Diplomacy is done discreetly, betting on finding common outputs and advancing in overcoming differences. I agree, then, with what was expressed in this regard in a recent interview of the special envoy for Latin America, Mauricio Claver“
The Minister of Foreign Affairs said he hopes to meet in the coming weeks with the US authorities. And that he has met with Claver-Carone, both in private and publicly, “The delegate has told us that the conversations with this Foreign Ministry and the Embassy in the US have been positive“
United States deportees arrives in Colombia
AFP
Colombia has asked to have a kind of deadline for sending new deportees in order to better prepare their reception and refine the protocols. Is this not to return to the initial point of the crisis? What happens if countries like the United States and Panama do not give that period? The minister replied that next Monday, February 3, a flight will arrive from Panama. “The Chancellor confirmed that The deportees will not be chained; Only those with criminal commitments will travel in special conditions. In relation to the United States, the principles and The positions of each government are clear and, as I say, they are not irreconcilable. We continue to build a way outa practical method in which the positions of both governments. For now, we are going for our nationals“He said.
Before the question of what is going to be the strategy to re -get the help of US resources to Colombia, as has happened in the last three decades, it is an issue above partisan policy in the United States? Sarabia said that this is not a problem only from Colombia.
“The State Department of the United States froze cooperation resources worldwidewhich represents more than 40 percent of the total, that is, Something more than 60,000 million dollars in aid. Without a doubt, we face a new global scenario. We have appointed diplomatic career officials at the highest levels to advance this week in dialogues with the US government to anticipate any final decision on cooperation funds“, held.
(See more: They raise the possibility of having cruises to deport Colombians)
“Diplomacy demands technical knowledge, and I am taking full advantage of the extent of the Foreign Ministry. I will continue with rounds of calls and meetings with actors from various sectors, trajectories and ideologies, with The objective of building the most efficient and legitimate roads to restore the flow of cooperation resources“He added.
Anti -drug fight
Regarding the question of what approach does the Colombian government prepare Faced with the risks of the United States to discertify the anti -drug struggle given the overflowing growth of illicit crops?, Sarabia said he would not dare “speculate on hypothetical situations. What can I tell you is that We are working on a schedule with specific actions to reduce hectares of coca leaf, that will be socialized as soon as possible with the United States government”
“All these initiatives seek not only to maintain certification, but continue to address the drug situation in a structural and sustainable way. The fight against drug trafficking is a priority for the United States government due to the harmful effects it has on its society. The drug use of its population represents one of its greatest challenges, and we are convinced that both Colombia and the United States share the interest of continuing to cooperate to face this phenomenon in an integral way“He said.
Drugs
Istock
The Colombian government has been implementing a series of innovative and ambitious measures in the fight against drug trafficking. These include the promotion of “A paradigm shift in anti -drug policy, strengthening international cooperation, The intensification of voluntary substitution programsand the impulse to rural development, without forgetting the adoption of policies based on public health and human rights“He emphasized.
(See more: ‘HERE HERE FIELD HEADS, UNIVIDE IT’S A DELINDER’: PETRO)
As for the bases on which an understanding can be built between the Petro government and Trump’s government for the management of irregular migrants, Sarabia indicated that it is pragmatism. Since there are issues that “They summon us, such as commercial exchange, the fight against drugs and the long history of mutual support between Colombia and the United States. Although In this situation the differences may seem considerable, in essence they are reduced to a single matter: to ensure that the nationals who return do so in decent conditions. The solution we have found is to assume the logistics of their transfer to receive them in Colombia with the dignity that corresponds to them”
Venezuela case
Why did the apparent difference in the scrato in the management of relations with the dictatorship of Nicolás Maduro and with the Trump government?, The chancera was questioned, who said: “I assure you that the Foreign Ministry watches over the welfare of Colombians at any international level, but each country and each context have its peculiarities. The historical, cultural and diplomatic relations of Colombia with Venezuela and with the United States are totally different. In fact, the issues that currently occupy the center of our conversations also vary significantly“
Finally, the Foreign Minister said that since last Sunday she has had contact with various unions, business leaders, non -governmental organizations, former corn and former presidents. “I will continue to do so in a round in which some will attend the call and, probably, not others. However, I assure you that I will be persistent and I will not faint in my effort to build bridges“
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