In his first press conference as Colombia’s president-elect, Juan Manuel Santos comments on future international relations policy with neighbors Ecuador and Venezuela, as well as with ally the U.S.
Santos announced that he had received a phone call from Ecuadorean President Rafael Correa congratulating his victory at the polls in Sunday’s second round presidential election.
Santos reiterated his disposition to restore fractured diplomatic relations between the neighboring Andean nations and said “I spoke with President Correa this morning – he called me – we had a very pleasant dialogue on how to find a route to improve relations even more and accelerate that process.”
The president-elect also acknowledged the Venezuelan government’s congratulations published in a press release, which he said he ” appreciates and values greatly, is a positive first gesture towards the aim of restoring relations for the sake of our peoples.”
“I don’t want to rush into saying how we will act, but I value this press release as very positive and this gesture by Venezuela, congratulating the Colombian people and me as president-elect, is a very good first step and a good start to the re-establishment of relations,” Santos said.
Efforts may be complicated due to the issue of an arrest warrant by an Ecuadorean court for Santos, for his responsibility in the 2008 raid.
Relations with Venezuela have been rocky for years but frictions worsened following Colombia’s agreement to give the U.S. increased access to its military bases – a deal that Chavez calls a threat to Venezuela.
Colombia, meanwhile, alleges Chavez’s government has allowed Colombian rebels to take refuge inside Venezuela. Chavez has repeatedly rejected the allegations. Chavez has been outspoken in his dislike for Santos.
Santos on Sunday was elected to be the 2010-2014 president by the Colombian people with 69% of the vote, defeating his opponent, the Green Party’s Antanas Mockus, who only received 28%.
Correa is expected to attend Santos’ swearing in as president on August 7.