Switzerland reaffirms its support for peace process in Colombia
Bern, 10.08.2023 - President Alain Berset met with Colombian President Gustavo Petro on Thursday, 10 August. Talks focused on Switzerland's engagement in Colombia, peacebuilding and humanitarian aid. Other topics of discussion included cooperation between the two countries at international level, policy on drugs and the situation in Europe and Latin America.
The president paid tribute to the progress made in the Colombian peace process and stressed that Switzerland would remain strongly committed to the country. "The last several years have been marked by the pandemic and aggressive attacks against multilateralism. Cooperation between like-minded states is all the more important now. And the world urgently needs hopeful signs like those sent out by the peace processes in Colombia," said President Berset. The bilateral agreement approved by the Federal Council in June for Switzerland to keep a digital backup copy of the archives of the Colombian Truth Commission was signed by the two presidents on Thursday.
The last time a Swiss President paid a visit to Colombia was in 2016. Colombia is a priority country for Switzerland in no less than three areas - humanitarian aid, peacebuilding and economic cooperation. During the talks between President Berset and President Petro, both sides emphasised the strong ties between the two countries and the positive developments, including in economic exchanges, where the volume of trade reached around one billion Swiss francs in 2022.
A key topic was the cooperation between the two countries at the international level, especially within the UN. Policy on drugs was also discussed with both sides agreeing to step up exchanges on this issue, which were very intensive prior to the pandemic.
Switzerland an accompanying state in the peace process
In Bogotá, Mr Berset met with stakeholders involved in the implementation of the 2016 peace agreement between the Colombian government and the rebel group FARC. Further steps to bring peace to the country were discussed. Along with Germany, Sweden and Spain, Switzerland is one of four states accompanying the peace process between the armed group ELN and the government, which is why the president met with these two negotiating delegations. Also in Bogotá, he met members of the Swiss community in Colombia and attended the inauguration of the embassy's renovation.
On Tuesday, 8 August, and Wednesday, 9 August, the programme primarily consisted of visits and meetings within the framework of peacebuilding and humanitarian aid in the departments of Valle del Cauca and Antioquia. In Buenaventura (Valle de Cauca), Mr Berset held talks with civil society organisations and local authorities. In Dabeiba (Antioquia), the delegation visited a project that seeks to reintegrate former combatants thereby implementing the peace process.
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