After the revocation of the United States Visa to the President of Colombia, Gustavo Petro, after his speech in the middle of a pro-palestine protest in which he asked the US army to disobey the orders of President Donald Trump, the Colombian Foreign Ministry issued a statement this Sunday, September 28, in which they indicated that the fact of denying or revoking a visa-as a diplomatic weapon-attentive to the spirit of the 1945 letter of a Init participation with promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression without consideration of borders“
According to the Foreign Ministry, the United Nations Organization based in New York is a scenario that “grants the right to the representatives of the member countries to use the government of another member-interlocutor country for the application and approval of an official visaas a sine qua non condition (without which not) Driving to participate in acts, events or conferences framed within the development of the high -level week of the United Nations General Assembly, among others, guaranteeing freedom of word and complete independence in the performance of their functions, as well as the immunity of judicial proceeding, regarding oral or written expressions “.
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And, for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, it would be key to the search for a completely neutral headquarters that allows, regardless of its bilateral relations and political positions and ideologies, “that it was the organization itself that issued an authorization to enter the territory of that new state-sheds, with adherence to international law, In the understanding that diplomatic standards of immunity and access are imposed on common immigration policy“
President Gustavo Petro in New York
They also expressed that Colombia will continue to be an active participating country in multilateral scenarios, particularly in the United Nations, reaffirming that “1947 headquarters Agreement obliges the United States to guarantee the entry of state delegations to said instances“
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In addition, the Foreign Ministry insisted that the fact of raising the voice for “Reporting facts that affect the Palestinian population cannot be interpreted as an act contrary to law, but as a moral and political obligation to possible serious violations of international humanitarian law and human rights of that population. Our country is signed its commitment to the defense of human rights, peace and multilateral diplomacy as essential tools to overcome conflicts and strengthen the international community“.
Thus, the Minexteriors pointed out in his communication, that, limit the entrance to a country for reasons linked to “A public opinion departs from the international standard. Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, of which the United States and Colombia are parties part, Recognizes that every person will be entitled to freedom of expression, understanding the freedom to seek, receive and disseminate information and ideas of all kinds, without border consideration“
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The speech that cost Petro’s visa
The president’s intervention in US territory was not only focused on Palestine, but also included the US army, the Colombian said that if the two thirds of the nations vote in favor of this resolution, “We will be in a process called ‘United for Peace’, but for Palestine. The nations that vote if the resolution is approved, will have the responsibility to configure with their own armies this great unitfirst in the world, of an army that enforces the orders of international justice the nations of the world“
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“Then they will find trained and armed men and women to configure this great army, it has to be bigger than that of the United States“Petro added.
And the final statement that could have cost the president the revocation of his visa: “Therefore, from here in New York, I ask all the soldiers of the United States Army to not point their rifles against humanity. Disobess Trump’s order! Obey the Order of Humanity!“
Valentina Delgadillo Abello
Portfolio journalist
