Colombia’s President Uribe admitted in Canada Thursday that political
scandals, such as the ‘wiretapping scandal’, endanger the improvement
of economic relations with other countries.
“Of course there are obstacles to the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with Canada. For example when something bad happens in the country such as the ‘wiretapping scandal’. And a lot of people misunderstood the efforts of the Democratic Security policy in order to overcome the violence,” Uribe said on his official visit to the north American country.
“I would say that there is a group of Colombians who systematically try to oppose the treaty and who try to discredit the efforts of the Government”, Colombia’s President added.
Uribe called on the Canadian Congress to agree to the treaty “which is very important for the investments in Colombia. We cannot remain isolated from the world economy with 46 million inhabitants, so much poverty and so many difficulties in our country”, Uribe emphasized.
Nevertheless, Uribe sees a positive development that gives him “some certainty that Colombia is going to sign the Agreement”, he said in an official statement.