In Bogotá, the President met with the President of the Republic of Colombia, H.E. Mr. Juan Manuel Santos Calderón. They discussed the Colombian peace process, collaboration between Colombia and the United Nations, regional dynamics, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), United Nations reforms and migration. President Lajčák thanked President Santos for agreeing to attend the High-level Meeting
on Peacebuilding and Sustaining Peace that he would convene on 24 and 25 April in New York.
President Lajčák also participated alongside President Santos and National Planning Director Luis Fernando Mejía in the launch of Colombia’s national strategy for implementing the SDGs. That strategy was prepared by the Council of National Economic and Social Policy (CONPES). President Lajčák commended Colombia for its impressive commitment and progress.
In a meeting with the Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Colombia, H.E. Ms. María Ángela Holguín Cuéllar, the topics raised were migration and United Nations reforms, as well as regional issues and cooperation.
The President also discussed peace issues with Mr. Rafael Pardo, High Counselor for the Post-Conflict; Mr. Rodrigo Rivera, High Commissioner for Peace; H.E. Ms. María Emma Mejía, Permanent Representative of Colombia to the United Nations; and Mr. Joshua Mitrotti, Director-General of the Colombian Agency for the Reintegration of Armed People and Groups (ARN). Specifically, they spoke about the importance of reconciliation in Colombia, implementation of the peace agreement and the United Nations’ support in that regard.
The President also met with officials from the United Nations Country Team and United Nations Verification Mission in Colombia, and spoke with representatives of the private sector on financing for development
While in Colombia, the President travelled to the western town of Totoró to visit indigenous communities and a unique United Nations interagency project, which works to build peace and support sustainable development through strengthening local leadership, bolstering social cohesion, empowering rural women, improving food security and building agricultural capacities. He cited the project as an inspiring example of the kind of grassroots peacebuilding and cooperation that is needed in post-conflict societies.
The President left Colombia for New York on 17 March.
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Brenden Varma, Spokesperson for the President of the 72nd Session of the General Assembly, 1-212-963-7238, 1-347-556-3433 varmab@un.org
