Judith Pena | April 29, 2023
Colombian Foreign Minister Álvaro Leyva Durán addressed a letter to Panamanian Foreign Minister Janaina Tewaney de Mencomo to apologize for calling Panama a “department”
Leyva Durán’s words were given during his speech at the Atlantic Council, in Washington DC, during the official visit of President Gustavo Petro to the United States of America.
In the letter, he said that the feeling of the government and the people of Colombia towards Panama is and will always be one of deep respect and high esteem.
“It is a sentiment that has prevailed throughout the century of relations that we will commemorate next year,” he said.
He assured that calling Panama a department “only obeyed a spontaneous sentimental evocation of a personal nature to the times when our two towns constituted the same homeland.”
He went on to say that his expressions did not have the slightest intention of hurting or causing discomfort to Panama.
“However, allow me to extend to your Excellency and the people of Panama my sincere apologies because in effect what was stated was taken as a lack of respect for your country and your people. Far be it from me to have searched for that harmful scope, “he specified.
He took the opportunity to state that he wishes to continue working together to achieve the well-being and happiness of our sister nations.
