- Title: Macron says France will support Colombia in "battle for peace"
- Date: 21st June 2017
- Summary: BRIGITTE MACRON SHAKING HANDS WITH SANTOS BRIGITTE AND EMMANUEL MACRON SHAKING HANDS WITH SANTOS' WIFE MARIA CLEMENCIA RODRIGUEZ DE SANTOS MACRON AND SANTOS ARRIVING IN CEREMONIAL ROOM VARIOUS OF MACRON AND SANTOS SIGNING BILATERAL COOPERATION AGREEMENT MACRON AND SANTOS BEHIND LECTERNS (SOUNDBITE) (French) FRENCH PRESIDENT, EMMANUEL MACRON, SAYING: "We know how much the post-conflict matters as much as the end of the act of war and you must succeed in winning this battle for peace which - as you explained it - is sometimes much more difficult to win than some wars. The challenges of demobilisation, economical and social rehabilitation are still to take up and I told President Santos, that we are willing to support projects, new projects in order to consolidate peace and security, in terms of demining, reconciliation, transitional justice. And France will do all it can by your side." JOURNALISTS (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) COLOMBIAN PRESIDENT, JUAN MANUEL SANTOS, SAYING: "There won't be any bomb that will make bend the will of a united and free people. Terrorism doesn't know borders. We deeply regret the death of a French citizen in a bomb attack that took place in Bogota last weekend. We must fight against terrorism with courage and resilience, with strength and these are qualities that both our people have." MACRON AND SANTOS SHAKING HANDS
- Embargoed: 5th July 2017 22:14
- Keywords: Colombia President Emmanuel Macron President Juan Manuel Santos
- Location: PARIS, FRANCE
- City: PARIS, FRANCE
- Country: France
- Topics: Diplomacy/Foreign Policy,Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA0036M8466F
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Colombia and France on Wednesday (June 21) signed a bilateral cooperation agreement at the start of a three-day visit to France by Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos.
The Nobel Peace Prize winner was welcomed to the Elysee Palace in Paris by French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte.
Macron said France was willing to help Colombia win "the battle for peace" with support for projects to consolidate peace and security, demining, reconciliation and justice.
A peace deal signed by Santos' government last year with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) rebels ended more than 52 years of war and the last of the groups weapons are due to be handed over next week.
Santos said bombs could not "bend the will of a united and free people", referring to a blast in Bogota at the weekend that killed three people including a Frenchwoman volunteering in a poor area of the city.
Under the accord, rejected in a public referendum but pushed through by congress, the FARC will become a political party and most fighters will receive amnesty. - Copyright Holder: POOL (CAN SELL)
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