Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
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Question 128: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on the deterioration of relations between Colombia and Venezuela relations due to accusations by the Colombian administration claiming that the Venezuelan Government is harbouring terrorists [36106/10]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 387: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the extent to which he directly, through the UN or EU had attempted to positively influence the situation in Colombia; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36417/10]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Question Nos. 95, 128 and 387 together.

On 7 August 2010 President Juan Manuel Santos Calderón was inaugurated as President of Colombia.

In his inauguration address, President Santos indicated that one of his fundamental aims as President will be to re-establish ties with Venezuela and Ecuador, to restore trust between them and to privilege diplomacy and prudence in their bilateral relations. On 10th August President Santos met with President Chavez and they agreed to re-establish diplomatic relations between the two countries which had been broken off by Venezuela on 22nd July in response to allegations that Venezuela was harbouring Colombian terrorists.

Efforts are underway to normalize diplomatic relations between Colombia and Ecuador, which were broken off following an incursion in March 2008 by the Colombian Armed Forces into Ecuador which resulted in the death of a Forzas Armadas Revolucionarias da Colombia (FARC) leader Manuel Reyes. On 23rd September, Victor Suárez, reportedly the military leader of the FARC, was killed by Colombian Armed Forces in La Macarena, in central Colombia. Commenting on the incident, President Santos noted that the loss of such an important FARC figure will make a considerable contribution to ending terrorism and narco-trafficking in Colombia.

During his inauguration address, President Santo emphasised that human rights would be a key issue during his term of office. He stated that Colombia's Ministry of Justice will be re-established as the Ministry of Justice and Rights with a view to strengthening the State's policy in support of justice and protecting fundamental rights. I am encouraged that President Santos has tasked his Vice President, Angelina Garzón, with particular responsibility for taking forward his government's programme in this important area. Furthermore, I have written to Foreign Minister Maria Ángela Holguin Cuéllar to indicate my continuing interest in human rights dialogue with the Colombian government.

During negotiations on a Free Trade Agreement between the EU and Colombia, Ireland insisted on the inclusion of a clause committing both the EU Member States and Colombia to the implementation of their human rights responsibilities with the proviso that failure to do so would result in the suspension of the Agreement.

I can assure you that the Government will continue to closely follow the human rights situation in Colombia and take any steps we consider necessary bilaterally as well as in cooperation with our EU Partners. End of Take