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President Andrés Manuel López Obrador began his first tour of South America this Friday in Colombia, where he met with his counterpart Gustavo Petro, with whom spoke about
President Andrés Manuel López Obrador began his first tour of South America this Friday in Colombia, where he met with his counterpart Gustavo Petro, with whom spoke about peace initiatives being implemented in the country and about the global paradigm shift regarding drugs.
López Obrador arrived in Cali accompanied by Foreign Minister Alicia Bárcena and Defense Minister Luis Cresencio Sandoval on his sixth foreign trip in his nearly five years in office, during which He visited only the United States, Central America and Cuba.
“I am very happy to be here in Cali, in Colombia.. I come to greet the President in a brotherly manner“López Obrador spoke to the media after arriving at the Valle del Pacífico event center in the nearby town of Yumbo, north of Cali.
Photo: X (@AlcaldiaDeCali)
The Mexican President met behind closed doors with Peter, who was unusually punctual and with whom he discussed the central problem that had brought him to the country: drugs. In fact, both will close the Latin American and Caribbean Drugs Conference tomorrow, where they will receive the conclusions of two days of technical meetings and thematic panels on global issues and new approaches to restarting the “failed” war on drugs.
This conference is the “starting point” for the present summit, where leaders around the world develop a new drug policy to confronting realities like addiction and overdose deathdrug trafficking or even ancient and traditional approaches to certain plants such as the coca leaf.
Both discussed the issue in their bilateral meeting to find a common position on the issue in which Lopez Obrador, in principle, adheres to a more conservative view. while Peter is keen to lead a new conversation and will tomorrow unveil his government’s national plan, which does not include decriminalizing any substances but does include a less punitive approach.
Photo: X (@AlcaldiaDeCali)
For her part, Foreign Minister Bárcena Ibarra explained to reporters that a number of issues of mutual interest were discussed at the meeting of leaders.
Mexico, he said, “has there is great confidence that between the present government of Colombia and our governmentManuel Lopez Obrador, concrete things can be done.”
He explained that at the meeting They also talked about how to achieve greater integration of Latin America. and the Caribbean, “especially in light of the fact that Colombia is set to hold the presidency” in 2025 of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (Celac).
Photo: X (@CancilleriaCol)
He explained that progress is being made in terms of healthcare self-sufficiency, within which he has already managed to create a platform for regulatory harmonization, It already includes Colombia, Mexico, Cuba, Brazil, Argentina and Chile.
“So what happened to us during the pandemic will not happen to us again and we will be able to advance in the production of our drugs.”
Among other issues that were addressed were issues related to migration, which he mentioned “This problem cannot be solved by one country alone, it must be done at the regional level”drug policy, food security and climate change.
Photo: X (@AlcaldiaDeCali)
In addition to this central issue, during the bilateral meeting the heads of the two states also They addressed the overall peace process in Colombia, This was reported by the Mexican Foreign Ministry.
At the beginning of the year, Mexico hosted a second round of negotiations with the National Liberation Army (ELN) rebels. Colombia again invited you to host a new cycleafter a room in Caracas closed this week.
Photo: X (@AlcaldiaDeCali)
Although they share many points of view, these two Latin American leftist leaders also differ in their views on the world, because although Peter wants to talk and negotiate with everyone, including drug gangsLópez Obrador has refrained from talking about submitting to justice in such crimes.
“We have a very good relationship with them, but their circumstances are different, he knows that. Experience cannot be extrapolated“said the Mexican president in March.
It is Latin American integration that is another item on the agenda of the meeting, which for Mexico involves “strengthening the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (Celac) and new mechanisms based on a real political approach and tangible in people’s lives, which promotes inclusion and prosperity in line with the vision for Latin America and the Caribbean.”
Photo: X (@AlcaldiaDeCali)
After a joint dinner, the two leaders will meet again tomorrow at the closing of the Latin American and Caribbean Drug Conference, where, in addition to closing remarks, They will give a joint statement to the media.
After that, both will travel separately to Chile to meet with another representative of the current Latin American left, Gabriel Boric and accompany the celebrations of the 50th anniversary of Augusto Pinoche’s coup d’étatagainst Salvador Allende, which will take place next Monday, September 11th.
According to EFE
Source: Aristegui Noticias
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