U.S. President Barack Obama met with Colombia’s President Juan Manual Santos on Thursday (February 04) and said he will ask the U.S. Congress for more than $450 million in aid to help Colombia implement a peace accord aimed at ending Latin America’s longest war.
Obama met with Santos at the White House where the two leaders held a joint press conference.
“We all know that it’s easier to start wars than end them. But after half a century of wrenching conflict the time has come for peace,” said Obama.
The new aid program will be called “Peace Colombia,” Obama said – a play on “Plan Colombia,” which provided $10 billion in aid between 2000 and 2015.
“Just as the United States has been Colombia’s partner in a time of war, I indicated to President Santos, we will be your partner in waging peace,” said Obama.
The United States, Obama said, would offer a new aid package to help Colombia transition to peace.
“So as Colombia transitions to peace, the United States will work with you, hand-in-hand. I’m proposing that more than $450 million be devoted to helping to reinforce security gains, reintegrate former combatants into society, and extend opportunity and the rule of law into areas denied them for decades,” said Obama.
In addition, the U.S. government will commit $33 million to a global program to help the country deal with a legacy of land mines, he said.
“As part of our global demining efforts, the United States intends to support Colombia as it works to remove every landmine in the country within five years,” said Obama.
The fight between the Colombian government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), a leftist rebel group, has killed more than 220,000 people and displaced millions since it began in 1964.
Three previous attempts at a peace accord failed, but after four years of talks, the government and FARC are on the verge of a deal.
President Santos said that U.S. support had been crucial to helping to secure a peace deal.
“All of these advances are due in great part to the fact that 15 years ago, when we were in such serious straits, the Colombians received a friendly hand. And that friendly hand came from here, from Washington — from both sides of the aisle, Democrats and Republicans. And thus it has remained,” he said.
Peace in Colombia is critical to ensuring the stability of Latin America, said Santos.
“Thank you for understanding that peace in Colombia means peace for the entire region. Peace will be the cherry on the cake of Plan Colombia and the start of a new chapter — a new chapter of collaboration and friendship between our two nations,” he said.
Obama, a Democrat, will ask the Republican-controlled U.S. Congress to approve funds for the program in his budget next week. Traditionally, aid to the nation has been supported by lawmakers and presidents from both parties. (Reuters)
