PRESS BRIEFING BY PRESIDENT-ELECT OF COLOMBIA

Following a meeting with the Secretary-General on the subject of violence affecting his country, the President-elect of Colombia delivered a statement on the matter at a Headquarters press briefing this afternoon.

Alvaro Uribe Velez will be inaugurated for a four-year term of office on

7 August, said Shashi Tharoor, United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Communications and Public Information, who introduced the President-elect to correspondents.

The statement of the President-elect was as follows:

“Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen.  I have conducted a meeting with United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan with the purpose of considering solutions to the problem of violence affecting Colombia, to which the United Nations may lend positive contributions.  At the meeting, several topics were evaluated, and we will continue to explore the possibilities as discussed.  It is essential that these conversations, and the efforts that may be undertaken, be conducted confidentially.  I would therefore like to request the understanding of the media and the public.  Thank you very much.”

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