- Title: France´s Hollande lays wreath at Simon Bolivar momument in historic state visit
- Date: 23rd January 2017
- Summary: BOGOTA, COLOMBIA (JANUARY 23, 2017) (REUTERS) COLOMBIAN FOREIGN MINISTER, MARIA ANGELA HOLGUIN, AND FRENCH PRESIDENT, FRANCOIS HOLLANDE WALKING THROUGH GARDENS OF THE QUINTA DE BOLIVAR MONUMENT TO SOUTH AMERICAN INDEPENDENCE LEADER, SIMON BOLIVAR MONUMENT CLOSE-UP OF MILITARY GUARD MILITARY GUARDS CARRYING WREATH IN FRONT OF HOLLANDE CLOSE-UP OF BANNER OF FRENCH FLAG READING (IN FRENCH): "THE PRESIDENT" HOLLANDE STANDING IN FRONT OF MONUMENT AND GUARD HOLLANDE WALKING AWAY DOWN RED CARPET BETWEEN MILITARY GUARDS HOLLANDE STANDING WITH COLOMBIAN PRESIDENT, JUAN MANUEL SANTOS, IN FRONT OF FOUNTAIN AT PRESIDENTIAL PALACE CLOSE-UP OF SANTOS AND HOLLANDE VARIOUS OF SANTOS AND HOLLANDE STANDING IN FRONT OF FOUNTAIN CLOSE-UP OF GUARD GENERAL VIEW OF MILITARY GUARD SPINNING BATON DURING MILITARY HONOURS FOR HOLLANDE SANTOS AND HOLLANDE REVIEWING THE TROOPS CLOSE-UP OF GUARDS FROM MILITARY BAND SANTOS AND HOLLANDE WALKING TOGETHER SANTOS AND HOLLANDE WALKING ONTO STEPS OF PRESIDENTIAL PALACE
- Embargoed: 6th February 2017 16:43
- Keywords: Francois Hollande Colombia France Juan Manuel Santos Maria Angela Holguin peace
- Location: BOGOTA, COLOMBIA
- City: BOGOTA, COLOMBIA
- Country: Colombia
- Topics: Diplomacy/Foreign Policy,Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA00160AY6O7
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:French President Francois Hollande laid a wreath at a monument to South American independence leader Simon Bolivar on Monday (January 23) in an historic state visit to Colombia where the dignitary will reinforce his support for the peace process underway.
Hollande was greeted by Colombian Foreign Minister Maria Angela Holguin at the Bolivar´s former residence, now the Quinta de Bolivar monument in Colombia´s capital, Bogota. His trip marks the first visit to Colombia by a French President since 1989, when Hollande´s fellow Socialist, Francois Mitterand, met with his South American counterpart, Virgilio Barco.
Hollande was then received with military honours at the government palace by President Juan Manuel Santos, where he will sign agreements affirming his moral and financial support for Colombia's peace process.
France is a primary contributor, along with Germany, to a European Union fund backing the peace process underway to end a 52-year war between the Colombian government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC).
Hollande will on Tuesday visit a transition zone in the northwest of the country, where FARC rebels will be transferred during the process of disarmament, in which the United Nations will take possession of all weapons held by the insurgent group before it remodels itself into a political party.
FARC commander Pastor Alape said in a recent news conference that Hollande´s visit illustrates the international community acting to uphold its commitment to the peace process.
Hollande and Santos are also expected to sign diverse bilateral accords, spanning education, tourism, science and technology, defense and security.
Hollande, who currently maintains a four percent satisfaction rate among French voters, conceded recently that he would not run in France's upcoming presidential elections, which are widely expected to go to the right or far-right. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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