On Tuesday 31 May 2016, Jean Asselborn became the first Luxembourg Foreign Minister to pay a working visit to Colombia, at the invitation of his Colombian counterpart María Ángela Holguín Cuéllar.
Besides talks with his Colombian counterpart, Minister Asselborn also met with Post-Conflict Minister, Rafael Pardo Rueda, and President of the Colombian Congress, Luis Fernando Velasco Cháves.
Jean Asselborn and his Colombian counterpart welcomed the bilateral relations between the two countries, whilst suggesting that economic ties could be further developed. In this context, the ministers agreed on the need to quickly start negotiations on an agreement that would avoid double taxation.
The discussions also addressed the political situation in Colombia, particularly in the Colombian peace process with the FARC which hopes to end the internal conflict which has been undermining the country for decades.
Jean Asselborn assured Luxembourg's support to the Colombian government regarding the final stage of negotations and for the post-conflict period.
"The Colombian people have endured a lot of suffering and the conclusion of a lasting peace agreement will open new opportunities for future generations and at all levels, including the economic," Minister Asselborn commented, adding that "in a world given to a plethora of conflicts, the peace agreement would be a victory for diplomacy and would constitute and exemplary success in many other areas."
Regarding relations between Colombia and the European Union, the ministers welcomed the entry into force of the visa waiver agreement signed during the Luxembourg Presidency of the Council of the EU in early December 2015. The agreement enables Colombian citizens to travel without visas in the Schengen area and has already benefitted around 50,000 Colombian citizens.
Discussions between Jean Asselborn and the Colombian authorities finally reviewed the regional situation in Latin America and discussed more broadly the relations between the EU and CELAC. Similarly, the ministers discussed the latest political developments within the European Union in particular addressing the migration crisis, before dealing with international issues such as the situation in the Middle East.
Photo by MAEE
