Colombia is a priority in the U.S. Government's Global Vaccine Supply Plan, said National Security Council’s Juan González
Meetings with Members of Congress, Human Rights Watch, and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Are Among Today’s Events
Will Meet with U.S. Secretary of State on Friday, May 28th
Washington, DC — Colombian Vice President and Foreign Minister Marta Lucía Ramírez met today with senior White House officials, Members of Congress and representatives from the human rights and business communities. Highlights include:
· Meeting with the National Security Council Senior Director for the Western Hemisphere, Juan González: During the meeting, González expressed the support of the U.S. government for Colombia to “prosper, advance in security and continue to be an example in the region.”
The Vice President highlighted the support of the United States on priority issues for Colombia. “We agree in the rejection of vandalism and violence, regardless of the origin. We are also moving towards cooperation on COVID-19 vaccines, a very important issue for our economic reactivation,” she said.
In turn, González ratified the bilateral relationship in the defense sector and highlighted the historical relations between the two countries. “There is clear support for Colombia and the Colombian people. We recognize the peaceful protesters and the demands they have, in that national conversation that President Duque has proposed. Obviously, any report of violence by citizens will be investigated clearly and forcefully. The United States is there to support Colombia, as we have done for many decades,” González said.
González also referred to the prioritization of Colombia and Latin America in terms of COVID-19vaccines. “President Biden announced a vaccine plan of more than 80 million that the United States is going to supply globally. Latin America is going to be one of those approved in this initiative, and, obviously, as we have always, we will support Colombia in areas to create greater economic opportunity and security situation. Diplomatically and as allies, we will always be there,” said the senior U.S. official.
· The Vice President also met with the Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for the Western Hemisphere, Daniel Erikson, with whom she strengthened common goals, facing the current challenges of the region and the needs of the citizens.
· Meetings with U.S. Elected Officials: Vice President Ramírez met with Representative Jim McGovern (D-MA) to discuss the social protest in Colombia and how to advance a constructive agenda based on transparency and democratic principles.
She also met with Representative Albio Sires (D-NJ), Chair of the Western Hemisphere Subcommittee of the House Foreign Relations Committee, who expressed full U.S. support for the vaccination plan in Colombia.
Her meetings with elected officials also included a conversation with Senator Robert Menendez, Chairman of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
· Human Rights Watch Among Additional Meetings: In the afternoon, the Vice President met with the Director for the Americas of Human Rights Watch, José Miguel Vivanco; the Executive Vice President of the United States Chamber of Commerce, Myron Brilliant; and former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright.
Today’s meetings are part of Vice President Ramírez’s visit to the United States that started in New York City last weekend and will continue in Washington, DC this week. Yesterday, she participated in an Atlantic Council forum. On Friday, May 28th she will meet with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken.