President Alain Berset to visit Swiss priority country Colombia
Bern, 04.08.2023 - Colombia is a priority country for Switzerland in three respects: peace support, humanitarian aid and economic cooperation. Next week President of the Swiss Confederation Alain Berset will visit Colombia, where he will meet President Gustavo Petro in Bogotá on Thursday, 10 August. Talks will focus on the peace processes in Colombia, Switzerland's commitment and cooperation between the two countries within the UN framework.
In Bogotá, in addition to the official talks with Mr Petro, a meeting is planned with actors involved in the implementation of the 2016 peace agreement between the Colombian government and the rebel group FARC (Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia). Further steps to bring peace to the country will also be discussed. Along with Germany, Sweden and Spain, Switzerland is one of four states accompanying the peace process between rebel group ELN (Ejército de Liberación Nacional) and the government, which is why Mr Berset will be meeting with these negotiating delegations for discussions during his visit.
Switzerland and Colombia will also sign the bilateral agreement for the preservation of a digital backup copy of the archives of the Colombian Truth Commission in Switzerland. This agreement, approved by the Federal Council on 21 June, is a sign of Colombia's confidence in Switzerland, its peace policy and its pioneering role in the preservation of archives.
Peace support and humanitarian aid
The visit to Colombia is the first by a Swiss president since 2016 and will serve to foster close bilateral relations. On Tuesday, 8 August, and Wednesday, 9 August, Mr Berset will visit peace support and humanitarian aid projects in the departments of Valle del Cauca and Antioquia.
Switzerland's support in Colombia includes dealing with the past, emergency aid for internally displaced people affected by ongoing conflicts, and adaptation to climate change. Colombia has also been a priority country for Switzerland's economic development cooperation since 2009, with the goals of strengthening the competitiveness of the Colombian economy and promoting sustainable growth.
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Christian Favre, Co-head FDHA Communications
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