Colombia’s Foreign Ministry, in cooperation with Brazilian authorities, have set-up four mobile consulates to be at the disposal of Colombian citizens that may be in need of any type of government assistance during the World Cup.
The Colombian Foreign Ministry has put in service four mobile consulates in the Brazilian cities of Belo Horizonte, Rio De Janeiro, Cuiaba, and Rio Branco, according to an official government press release.
“We are working at full speed to take advantage of this great opportunity the country has to make a presence in Brazil,” said Colombia’s ambassador to Brazil, Patricia Cardenas.
Cardenas, who has been in Brazil since early May, said that her top priority was to be in constant contact with the Brazilian authorities in designing a business plan with the support of the Foreign Ministry to ensure adequate care for the large influx of Colombians coming into the country to support their team.
The director of consular issues reminded Colombians that consulates function to provide social assistance as well as judicial assistance, such as in cases of lost documents, missing persons, and accidents.
However, the director also clarified that “the Colombian state does not directly represent anyone arrested in the exterior for breaking foreign laws, but does promote the right to a fair trial, procedural guarantees, and basic international and human rights.”
Colombian citizens can go to a special Foreign Ministry page made for citizens attending the Brazilian World Cup. See the guide for Colombians here.
Colombia’s national team has qualified for the World Cup for the first time since 1998 and plays its first game against Greece this Saturday.
MORE: Colombia’s line-up for the 2014 World Cup