Iván Duque: "The re-election of Macri is fundamental for Latin America"

Colombian President Iván Duque is not hiding behind neutrality to talk about Argentine politics.
On an official visit to Buenos Aires, he firmly supports

Mauricio Macri

facing the election year. "I think the re-election of President Macri is fundamental for Latin America," he said in an interview with
THE NATION at the hotel in Recoleta where he stays.

The Uribe half-leader, who is 42 years old and has ruled since last August, says that without half-measures, the continuity of his Argentine colleague is essential for the confrontation with the regime.

Nicolás Maduro

which augurs little time to power. "The end of the dictatorship has never been so close," he said.

He denies criticizing the complex peace process in Colombia – he was a key figure of opposition to the plan promoted by the former president.

Juan Manuel Santos

– and warns that its goal is to promote the reintegration of the former guerrillas, but with a relentless stance for those who fall back into violence.

-C was last night with Mauricio Macri, what are the main objectives of this visit?

-For me, the relationship with Argentina is a fraternal and strategic relationship. We are two countries sharing the principles and vision of a social market economy. We have trade links that we need to strengthen. And above all we share a vision on hemispheric issues. I greatly appreciate that President Macri accompanies us in the complaint to the International Criminal Court against

Nicolás Maduro

, who participated in the creation of Prosur to contribute to the end of UNASUR. This visit will serve to strengthen the links between science, agricultural development and the fight against transnational crime. I am very motivated because we will organize Copa America next year.

-It was the Venezuelan issue, what allows Maduro to stay in power and the opposition seems to be losing momentum?

– A dictatorship that takes 20 years does not end one day to the next. Never before has Venezuela been so close to the end of the dictatorship. This dictatorship began as a dictatorship because it gained legitimacy through elections, but it eroded all independent powers and became the most brutal repressive dictatorship Latin America has faced in recent years. But Juan Guaidó and the Assembly imposed themselves. As never before, a diplomatic seat was installed, 50 countries recognizing the legitimacy of Guaidó. All this allowed Venezuela's military forces to fracture.

– However, during the April uprising, this has not been proven and the faithful in Maduro have prevailed. How do you think the end of Maduro will unfold?

-The division in the army is notorious. What happened on April 30th showed it. This is also reflected in the deepening of the diplomatic seat; also that blocks of countries with different positions converge towards democratic and institutional exit. This solution must go through the exit of Nicolás Maduro. Do we want that to happen faster? Yes, we all want that. And I believe that my call to the Latin American community is that we do not consider this as spectators, but that we all define what our role should be for Venezuela to recover democracy.

– What is the role of Colombia, in your opinion?

-You know that Colombia is the country that has had to mitigate the essence of the migration crisis, the largest in Latin America in recent years, with more than 1.5 million migrants missing three years. Which, of course, have an impact on health, education and employment. Colombia has shown the world that a migration crisis can be managed with fraternity and order. Our role has been very clear: first, to denounce the abuses of the dictatorship; second, to promote diplomatic encirclement; thirdly, to participate in the Lima group; and fourth, to make it clear to the world that this dictatorial regime protects terrorist groups and drug traffickers on their territory who are attacking the Colombian people.

– How important is it to the elections in Argentina and the possibility of returning a political ploy like Kirchnerism, ally of Chavez Venezuela?

– I believe that today in Latin America lives a kind of confrontation, which is not between left and right, but between demagogues and pedagogues. Demagogues are those who promote clbad hatred, those who believe in statism, those who persecute the economic apparatus, those who sow hate. In addition, educators are those who speak to leaders, in respect of private initiative, freedom and effective administration. There is no doubt that Mauricio Macri is a pedagogue who has received a country in convulsions and that during his tenure he has tried to reorient Argentina's production capacity so that it translates into equity and benefits, within a market economy. . If you ask me, I would think that the re-election of President Macri is fundamental to Latin America.

– Are you afraid of being able to change the direction of the region, which has aligned itself in recent years with a consensus, let's call it liberal or right, as opposed to the previous decade?

-I think it was the demagogues who hurt the most in Latin America. This ruined Venezuela, which destroyed the capital of one of the richest countries, which helped to consolidate the dictatorship in Venezuela, which then increased the size of the state as citizens at high tax rates will have to pay later. Demagogues have demonized economic sectors and called "rich" those who create jobs to promote clbad hatred. You have also experimented with these types of practices. And I think that at a timely moment in Latin America other governments have emerged that it is a priority to show society that satisfactory results can be achieved with sacrifices and with the necessary efforts. Although some things may be unpopular in the immediate future, the most important are the medium and long term benefits for our people.

-What is the drug trafficking that influences the region?

– Demagogues are quite permeable to transnational crime, as is drug trafficking. Money laundering, smuggling, the direct bribery of officials to obtain benefits are now branches of drug trafficking. When we talk about confronting demagogues, we are also confronted with the patterns of corruption that existed in our region.

– How do you badyze the impact of the Odebrecht affair on Latin America, which is also felt in Colombia?

-We must promote an international anti-corruption court, especially to fight corruption networks in companies. I think there should be a practice throughout the region: a company that bribes a public servant should never again enter into a contract with the state and should have a line of responsibility with its owners and administrators. I'm afraid that in many countries, companies that have corrupted end up getting in touch with the state and then continue to hire.

– I am interested in the peace process in Colombia, which does not seem to give the expected results or at least not with the foreseen deadlines. What's wrong?

-First, you have to put two things in context. When I took office as President on August 7, 2018, the process took 18 months to implement. That he was fragile and that he had serious flaws. From the first moment, I realized that the true heart of peace is the integration of people who have left violence. That said, when our government took office, only two productive projects had been advanced. We have today 25, which shelter more than 1300 people. At the beginning of our government, two development plans with a territorial approach had been advanced; today, they are finished 16. The transition zones were quite weak and full of uncertainty: we have linked these places of transition to productive initiatives of a lasting nature.

-You have opposed transitional justice, key to the peace process. Why do you think the situation can get back on track?

-Many people question him. I fear that in 18 months of implementation of the previous government and what is happening in our government, we still have not managed to ensure that transitional justice allows the FARC to give full information on their relations with drug trafficking, its routes, the recruitment of minors, badual crimes against children and adolescents. In addition, it was not possible for them to give true information about the resources they have to replace to repair the victims. These are enormous challenges, but we will continue to work to give the essential points to truth, justice, reparation and non-repetition. I want to be clear: we have been generous to this reintegration, but we will be absolutely relentless to those who relapse into criminal activity.

– A significant portion of those who laid down their weapons have returned to hide, according to recently released intelligence information.

-It's not like that. Before our government began, 3,000 people were talking about weapons that were in FARC dissent. We have helped reintegrated people in transition areas to do well. We have guaranteed the protection of demobilized persons. But we have also been relentless to those who have resumed the path of arms trafficking and drug trafficking. The most obvious evidence is that criminals like the pseudonyms "Guacho", "David", "Jason Orejas" or "Rodrigo Cadete" were confronted with the full force of the police force.

-In Argentina, gangs and drug cartels are installed. Is there anything on this subject on the agenda between the two countries?

-With Macri, we will sign a memorandum of understanding to improve judicial cooperation and the fight against transnational crime. Drug trafficking is a threat in all countries, both for institutions and for the economy. Cooperation to identify money laundering structures, extradite criminals, share evidence is a priority for both countries.

– What teaching could Colombia give to Argentina in the fight against drug traffickers?

-I do not really believe in lessons. Each country has its particularities. What I believe is that Argentina in the Macri government has made courageous and necessary decisions. Brave, it is to embark on the path of economic recovery after many years of demagoguery and populism. Courageous, it is promote fiscal responsibility, because fiscal irresponsibility implies that more tax for citizens. Brave, diversify exports. And brave to make such a powerful process of international insertion of Argentina. I believe in Macri's approach of telling the public that she must sacrifice herself to succeed, before what others have done in the past, that she was a bread for today and a hunger for tomorrow.

-What did you talk to Macri about the role of the United States in the region, with Donald Trump's leadership?

-We do not go into this business. I think the United States has relationships with the region that have evolved over the years. Since the time of the big club, as they called it at the time, until today, we have seen a more constructivist relationship, in order to strengthen the bonds with trade and investments. We must emphasize the opening of the United States market in recent years, which in some countries has allowed us to make much progress. This part of the relationship is above who are the presidents, here and there.

– To what extent do trade wars affect Colombia, such as the United States and China?

Trade wars do not suit us in Latin America. We ended up being one of the big losers, because although we have a lot of trade with the United States, we have also paved the way for Asia and have important relations with China. It is in the interest of the countries of Latin America that this situation ends well so that we can continue to grow serenely and reduce poverty.

– Have you spoken with Macri about the Copa America that the two countries will organize together in 2020?

-Yes, it motivates us to organize for the first time a joint tournament in a sport that fascinates us both countries. We believe a lot in sports diplomacy.

– And they agreed on the place of the final?

-I hope it's in Colombia (laughs).