[ad_1]
Colombia’s Ambassador to India Mariana Pacheco Montes has stated that her nation electing a left-wing President Gustavo Petro is a present of “robust democracy”.
Chatting with WION’s diplomatic correspondent Sidhant Sibal, Ambassador Mariana defined, “That is the third time he has gone as a presidential candidate, so he not new to politics however what’s new is Colombia elects for the primary time a left-wing President. He obtained a margin of three per cent over his contender, there’s numerous expectation and enthusiasm about him coming to energy. “
Gustavo Petro will take cost subsequent month and has been a member of the guerrilla motion that later reworked right into a political celebration. Most of the Latin American international locations have seen left-wing governments however Colombia remained the final bastion. Ambassador stated that President-elect plans to even have an “open dialog with Venezuela and open the relations” with the neighbouring nation, which will probably be an enormous breakthrough within the area. In 2019, Venezuela’s Maduro lower off diplomatic ties with Colombia.
WION: For the primary time ever, your nation could have a leftist govt underneath President-elect Gustavo Petro, in the event you can discuss in regards to the change in your nation.
Mariana Pacheco Montes: It’s the first time ever that the majority Colombians went out to vote, and first time ever Colombia elected a left-wing President, and the primary time Colombia elects African-Colombian girls as vice President. This can be a present of the robust democracy that we’ve got in Colombia, the institutionality and the establishments themselves. We’re within the midst of a transition to the brand new authorities, that can take energy on seventh August this yr.
WION: How important is that this as a result of we all know traditionally FARC hasn’t performed a really constructive position.
Mariana Pacheco Montes: First, President-elect Gustavo Petro demobilized the guerrilla military within the early Nineties, he’s q well-known politician, and after that, he went into politics. That is the third time he has gone because the presidential candidate, so he isn’t new to politics however what’s new is Colombia elected for the primary time a left-wing President. He obtained a margin of three% over his contender, there’s numerous expectation and enthusiasm about him coming to energy. He’s receiving a rustic that regardless of the pandemic could be very nicely managed. A rustic that’s open and rising and has the biggest financial progress final yr at 10.8%. For this yr, in accordance with OECD, Colombia will develop at 6.8%, one of many largest in Latin America. The unemployment fee has additionally decreased and with delight, I’ve to say girls are main the restoration of unemployment in Colombia. So, it is going to be attention-grabbing, with numerous expectations and numerous enthusiasm in Colombia.
WION: How important it has been for the area, given Colombia has been the final bastion or the nation within the area that by no means had a left-wing govt. How does it additionally impression your ties with Venezuela?
Mariana Pacheco Montes: It is not that the nation is falling, it is simply the democratic transition from centre-right to the Left, as in lots of different international locations the place there’s a democracy, there are transitions, and that’s what’s going on in Colombia. President-elect has stated that he’ll open a dialog with Venezuela and open relations. That isn’t to say we’ve not had open and fraternal relations with the Venezuelan individuals. We’ve got acquired greater than 2 million Venezuelans in Colombia and we’ve got formalized or legalized their standing in Colombia. Up to now 1.8 million Venezuelans reside formally in Colombia. It’s what some academicians name the pink tide of Latin America the place most of the international locations are going in the direction of the left.
WION: The just lately introduced reconciliation report that has been introduced is being hailed as a watershed second in your nation’s historical past. If you happen to can clarify to our viewers this report and likewise the peace pact that noticed Colombia being mentioned at UNSC.
Mariana Pacheco Montes: Colombia signed a peace settlement in 2016 with FARC which grew to become a political celebration and a few of these members didn’t comply with, didn’t demobilize and are nonetheless in illegality. On the subject of members who’ve adopted the demobilization course of, there are greater than 10,000 members of the previous FARC and a few of them are members of the senate, and members of the Home of Representatives which is an enormous step and a part of the peace accord signed in 2016. The peace accord has a technique of 16 years that it has to comply with, and the Colombian authorities known as the UN for a verification mission so that each 6 moths the minister of overseas affairs goes with the pinnacle of the implementation of the peace settlement and reviews how the implementation of the peace settlement is happening. As such, since India is a member of the UNSC, they can be has been a part of these reviews within the final yr and a half.
WION: How do you see the connection between India and Colombia going ahead?
Mariana Pacheco Montes: Superb, I believe we’re in an excellent stage of our bilateral relations and I’m very proud as an envoy that we’ve got come throughout many bridges, not solely within the financial, and cultural house. We’re at Casa Colombia, the primary cultural centre on the Colombian embassy, and we expanded Indian funding in Colombia. We had a high-level go to, with the Vice President, and Minister of overseas affairs in October, we had MOS MEA Lekhi going to Colombia, and we hope many extra occur. Some nice tech transfers and investments in pharma firms have occurred in Colombia from India. Tech Mahindra, TCS, and Hero Bikes are increasing and doing nicely in Colombia. I see and am proud to be half to be working hand in hand in partnership and friendship which has been stronger than ever.
WION: What’s the cultural hyperlink between India and Colombia?
Mariana Pacheco Montes: Very a lot so, not solely in music, artwork and the whole lot. My son is with me right here and he’s finding out Hindustani classical music and he has an Indo-Latino group which could be very attention-grabbing. We’re a lot alike. At Casa Colombia, we introduced an City Colombian artist who’s portray at Vasant Vihar metro station so ties are going stronger and stronger.
[ad_2]
Source link
