Colombia’s resident United Nations (U.N.) coordinator, Bruno Moro, said that the Andean nation is proof that “countries struggling to cope can achieve economic progress and social justice,” according to a government press release.
Speaking to Colombian President Alvaro Uribe, Moro said that “Colombia is another country today, Mr. President. The enormous advances that have occurred under your government will be consolidated and Colombia will persevere in the direction of creating a country of new opportunities, of new hopes for the people.”
The U.N. representative congratulated Colombia on its commitment to democracy, saying that the upcoming transition of power is completely constitutional and demonstrates that the country’s “democratic foundations are solid.”
Moro’s comments followed his acceptance of the “National Order of Merit” from the president, which was awarded in recognition of the U.N.’s contribution to Colombia.
“By conferring the National Order of Merit, we want to express all of our gratitude, our recognition, because you have demonstrated that the U.N. is not an abstract entity but one of flesh and bone and heart, that knows how to integrate countries, that comes to help them,” the president said.
Moro, an Italian national, has been the U.N.’s resident representative in Colombia since January 2006 and has over 20 years experience working in countries including Mexico, El Salvador and Cuba.
