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President Barack Obama extols the separation of powers in Colombia

Photo: Reuters

The letter of President Obama (photo) was delivered to Uribe by Gen.
James Jones, director of U.S. National Security

The U.S. president sent a letter to Colombian President Álvaro Uribe.


Read the letter sent to Barack Obama Álvaro Uribe (English)
Spanish version of the letter sent by Obama to Uribe
The U.S. president, Barack Obama, yesterday praised the performance of
Colombian democratic institutions, on which said, "are governed by the
rule of law and an abiding respect for the constitutional framework."

The impressions of Bush are contained in a letter he sent to his
Colombian counterpart Álvaro Uribe, which stresses that this would
have accepted the decision of the Constitutional Court declared the
referendum unconstitutional reelection.

"The recent decision of the Court and its acceptance of the decision,
has generated great interest in the United States and elsewhere," said
Obama's letter.

He adds in the letter that "this interest stems from the importance
that these developments have not only for Colombia but for the
Americas as a whole, demonstrates how both functioning democracies, as
the case of Colombia, are governed by the rule of law and an abiding
respect for the constitutional framework. "

According to Obama, when Uribe accepted the ruling of the Court "gave
a valuable example of how all citizens, even presidents-should be
subject to the law and accept the results of the democratic
institutions of their country."

In the view of Bush, "the clear compliance" of this "principle" often
"ignored throughout the region," go "to resonate in the Americas in
the years ahead and form another vital chapter" for the "legacy" Uribe.

"When you took office, Colombia was involved in violence and chaos
that threatened the survival of the rule of law and democracy itself
Colombia," Uribe told Obama.

"With their relentless effort and that of his fellow Colombians, this
August you can proudly hand over the reins of a country with an
unlimited future. This is a testament to strengthen its leadership and
people of Colombia," he adds.

Obama closes the letter saying his country was "pleased to have played
a role, over several administrations, to help Colombia to achieve
progress it has achieved in the last decade," while reaffirming its
"ongoing commitment to work with Colombia, in order to deepen
cooperation and friendship that our countries have enjoyed under his
mandate. "

"We are united by our strategic alliance and our commitment to
democracy, human rights, social justice and economic progress in the
Americas, says.
Obama's missive was delivered Thursday to Uribe by Gen. James L.
Jones, national security adviser in the White House during a meeting
with Uribe before the inauguration ceremony as president of Sebastian
Pinera, Chile.

"We congratulate the people of Colombia for the stability of the
process and the democratic transition will take," said Gen. Jones.

Cesar Mauricio Velasquez, press secretary of the Casa de Narino said
after learning of the letter, "Obama stresses that attitude, that
behavior, the democratic maturity of the institutions Colombian
President Álvaro Uribe to receive"
News of the ruling of the Court.


Jay Rouse
Strategic Campaigns International
1010 Wisconsin Avenue, NW suite 705
Washington, DC 20016