In an interview on 6AM Hoy por Hoy, Philip Goldberg, ambassador of the United States in Colombia, spoke about the relations between the two countries and the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
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“We are in Cali celebrating relations between the two countries. Last night we had a concert of people from the Pacific,” said the official.
Regarding the allocation of more than 400 million dollars to the country, he clarified that “the Congress of the United States approved that figure for our budget for Colombia, which is focused on economic development, to programs to sustain the countryside and replace coca crops. As well as our security and cooperation with the Police and Armed Forces.”
In the same way, he stated about the obstacles that arose so that this money was not delivered to the country, “certain requirements in the law were removed. At the same time, there are certain certifications that my country has to do to give the money to the Colombian Forces Certifications that have to do with human rights. I have to mention that we have not given money to ESMADWe have no intention of doing it and never have.”
In relation to the certifications related to human rights, he indicated that “we need to make a certification to Congress that the Armed Forces are observing the rights, it is a part, but not the totality.”
Venezuela-Russia
Regarding Venezuela, he said that according to the White House, the talks were related to the regimes that were there.
Regarding Senator Iván Cepeda’s concerns about the stay of US military forces in the country, he expressed, “That is something out of reality, Colombia is an ally, which was named an ally not NATObut They have nothing to do with participation, exercises or sending soldiers.
Finally, from the nuclear submarine near Colombia, he confessed that “this exercise is normal, it has nothing to do with a message to Venezuela, It’s part of our usual exercises”.
From the presence of Russian military in Venezuela he mentioned, “it is a concern and the Russians have to answer to the world for what they are doing. Here and in other democratic countries we have to talk about human rights violations, cruelty and invasion of territory.”
