PRESS CONFERENCE BY COLOMBIA'S MINISTER FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS

Press Briefing

PRESS CONFERENCE BY COLOMBIA'S MINISTER FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS

At a Headquarters press conference this afternoon, Guillermo Fernandez de Soto, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Colombia, said his country's election to the Security Council today by the General Assembly demonstrated "trust and confidence" by the international community. At the same time, his country was pleased to accept such a major commitment and responsibility.

A correspondent asked what role the Foreign Minister thought his country could play on the Security Council, at a time when it had a tarnished reputation, in light of what had happened for example, in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Further, why were there five abstentions in the vote for Colombia?

The Foreign Minister responded that abstentions were normal in a democracy and he was extremely satisfied at having emerged successful after the first round of voting. With regard to the Council itself, it was true that in recent years there had been a major discussion about the role the Security Council might and must play, especially with regard to maintaining peace. There was absolutely no doubt, however, as was shown at the Millennium Summit, that the community of nations wanted to strengthen the Council, so that its actions were transparent, it had better methods of work and it had stronger links to the General Assembly.

Continuing, he said that Colombia had participated in the Council on the basis of its principles -- respect for international law and the United Nations Charter. "We have absolutely no doubt that the Council can and must play a major role in maintaining peace," he said. "So, we are going to advocate transparency, improvement of working methods and a better relationship with the other bodies in the United Nations system."

In response to another question, he stressed the importance of due consideration for the rules of international law. That was his country's mandate, not just from the region, but obviously through the majority vote that it had received. The role of the Security Council in maintaining international peace and security must be strengthened.

A correspondent pointed out that Colombia was coming to the Council when its own democracy was being shaken, and when the world was full of situations with internally displaced people and a lack of peace.

In response, the Foreign Minister said Colombia was a country that, despite its own complexities, had a government that had been elected legitimately, with the most overwhelming majority in the history of the country. "What we've done in Colombia is to foster solutions for our internal conflict. Thus, the government is part of the solution and not part of the problem, as might occur in other parts of the world." Because of his country's credentials and legitimacy, not only because of its democratic institutions, but because of the mandate it had received, it would be able to work to consolidate international peace and security, alongside other members of the Security Council.

Another correspondent asked about the refugee situation, in particular refugees from Colombia in other countries. Was that considered an international refugee situation? he asked.

The Foreign Minister responded that Colombia was a special case. Colombia was not a threat to regional security or international peace. The threat to peace and security was drug trafficking and its links with uprisings and insurgencies. Further, when a country was seeking a political, democratic way out of a problem, then got support from the community of nations, that was testimony to the internal efforts it was making and the role it could therefore play in the Security Council. In Colombia, the government and country were part of the solution, not part of the problem or conflict. What the country needed was international solidarity and cooperation.

A correspondent said there was a division within the Council on the effectiveness of the sanctions against Iraq. Did Colombia have a particular viewpoint on that?

He said he didn't want to make any public pronouncements about that issue until after Colombia took its seat on the Council in January. It was a very sensitive issue. Obviously, Colombia wanted Iraq to abide by the resolutions that had been adopted by the Security Council. But, the discussions underway in the Security Council were absolutely critical and he didn't want to make any premature statements.

* *** *