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SECRETARY GENERAL MEETS WITH THE PRESIDENT OF COLOMBIA

  July 14, 2006

CARTAGENA, Colombia—The Secretary General of the Organization of American States Organization of American States, José Miguel Insulza, met this afternoon with Colombian President Álvaro Uribe to talk about the international situation and priority issues on the inter-American agenda.

During the hour-long meeting, Insulza and Uribe also discussed the contribution of the OAS Mission to Support the Peace Process in Colombia. Earlier this week, in the city of Medellín, Insulza got a firsthand look at some of the progress made in the country’s peace and reconciliation process, meeting with young people who had left a life of violence. The Secretary General reiterated the determination of the OAS to continue supporting disarmament and reintegration efforts.

Following this afternoon’s meeting, Insulza, President Uribe and Colombian Foreign Minister Carolina Barco proceeded to the main hall of the Convention Center of the Hotel Las Américas to participate in the closing of a seminar on Transparency against Corruption. The event brought together comptrollers and other high-level authorities from Latin America, the Caribbean, Europe, Asia and Africa.

Insulza addressed the seminar during the morning session, when he was also honored with the Order of Alberto Lleras Camargo in recognition of OAS anti-corruption efforts in the region. Colombian Comptroller General Antonio Hernández Gamarra presented the award to the Secretary General.

Reference: E-150/06