COLOMBIA: ECUADOR'S PRESIDENT-ELECT LUCIO GUTIERREZ MEETS WITH COLOMBIA'S PRESIDENT ALVARO URIBE FOR FIRST TIME IN BOGOTA
Record ID:
645631
COLOMBIA: ECUADOR'S PRESIDENT-ELECT LUCIO GUTIERREZ MEETS WITH COLOMBIA'S PRESIDENT ALVARO URIBE FOR FIRST TIME IN BOGOTA
- Title: COLOMBIA: ECUADOR'S PRESIDENT-ELECT LUCIO GUTIERREZ MEETS WITH COLOMBIA'S PRESIDENT ALVARO URIBE FOR FIRST TIME IN BOGOTA
- Date: 29th November 2002
- Summary: (W1) BOGOTA, COLOMBIA (NOVEMBER 29, 2002) (REUTERS) SCU: (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) PRESIDENT-ELECT OF ECUADOR LUCIO GUTIERREZ SAYING: "A group of friendly countries, a group of countries with good intentions could - as long as Colombia considers it suitable - contribute to the search for a peaceful solution to the conflict." WIDE OF GUTIERREZ WITH JOURNALISTS SV: (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) GUTIERREZ SAYING: "We think that the war should be the last of the last resorts and that it should be held until dialogue is worn out. As human beings, we have the capacity to communicate amongst ourselves and we believed that this alternative is a privilege. Ecuador would not be available to involve itself in a military action." SV: SOLDIERS IN FRONT OF THE MONSERRATE MOUNTAIN SV: GUTIERREZ GETTING INTO THE CABLE CAR OF MONSERRATE SHOT FROM CABLE CAR OF ANOTHER CABLE CAR GOING UP THE MOUNTAIN SV: GUTIERREZ LOOKING THROUGH THE WINDOW OF THE CABLE CAR PANORAMIC VIEW OF BOGOTA FROM CABLE CAR SV: GUTIERREZ WALKING ON MONSERRATE PANORAMIC VIEW OF BOGOTA
- Embargoed: 14th December 2002 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: BOGOTA, COLOMBIA
- Country: Colombia
- Topics: General,Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA6Q4FB4OV7F0LGPZ6K7XJZ4GIL
- Story Text: Ecuador's President-elect Lucio Gutierrez has met for the first time with Colombia's President Alvaro Uribe, discussing the country's civil war, border issues and regional integration.
Just days after winning Ecuador's Presidential election, Lucio Gutierrez arrived in Colombia on Friday (November 29) to meet with President Alvaro Uribe.
Gutierrez focused on the bloody civil war that has torn apart Colombia for the past four decades. He suggested establishing a multinational group to support the country in a peace effort.
"A group of friendly countries, a group of countries with good intentions could - as long as Colombia considers it suitable - contribute to the search for a peaceful solution to the conflict," he said.
Gutierrez stressed his reluctance to involve Ecuador in any type of military conflict.
"We think that the war should be the last of the last resorts and that it should be held until dialogue is worn out.
As human beings, we have the capacity to communicate amongst ourselves and we believed that this alternative is a privilege. Ecuador would not be available to involve itself in a military action," he said.
In their afternoon meeting, Gutierrez and Uribe also discussed regional integration and issues along the 586 kilometre border they share.
Ecuador's President-elect also met with business leaders and directors of Colombian economic groups as well as the President of the Congress Luis Alfredo Ramos. They addressed issues such as migration, security, trade, development and integration among members of the Andean Community of Nations (CAN).
The 45-year-old Gutierrez won Ecuador's presidential election on Sunday (November 24) with 54.3 percent of the votes. He is a former colonel who campaigned in a military-style uniform reminiscent of the one he wore when he led his troops to support an Indian uprising which overthrew elected President Jamil Mahuad in 2000. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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