Colombia’s Constitutional Court Thursday recommended that the military bases agreement with the United States first pass through Congress.
Thirteen of the 25 magistrates voted in favour of the agreement first passing through Congress before being reviewed by the Constitutional Court. It was considered that the scope of the new negotiations with the United States go beyond a simple addition to previous treaties and therefore its contents must first go to Congress, reported newspaper El Tiempo.
One of the most controversial aspects of the agreement is the allowance of the U.S. military access to seven military and navy bases in Colombia. Critics of the plan are also concerned about how much control Colombia would have over the activities of the U.S. personnel.
El Tiempo recently revealed that the possibility that the agreement would go into force this year was held up by intense debate in the State Council.
Sources this afternoon said that President Alvaro Uribe would receive a formal recommendation Thursday regarding the State Council’s position on the matter, prepared by the Interior, Foreign and Defense Ministries.