Rice Says Colombia Needs
FTA To Overcome
Challenges
U.S. Secretary of State
Condoleezza Rice warned
Thursday that the
challenges Colombia is
facing will only get
harder if a trade deal
with Washington doesn't
pass. Medellin, Colombia.
Rice arrived in Medellin,
northwestern Colombia,
Thursday with a
delegation of Democratic
lawmakers for two days
of talks aimed at
reviving the contentious
free trade agreement (FTA)
with the South American
country.
She told reporters that
"whatever the challenges
facing Colombia they are
not going to be easier
if this FTA does not
pass. In fact they will
be harder."
The visit is an
opportunity for
Colombia's various
sectors to explain the
future FTA's benefits,
said Medellin's
government secretary
Jesus Rodriguez.
The agreement was signed
in November of 2006 by
the two governments, but
with human rights
conditions set by U.S.
Congress, including a
decrease in the number
of businessmen killed in
Colombia.
Rice's visit marks the
fourth high-level U.S.
official visit to
Colombia in less than
six months |
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