MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Russia prepares to receive Colombia’s Uribe with full honours

The Red Square and the Kremlin are waiting for President Uribe

Colombian Foreign Affairs minister Jaime Bermudez visited Russia to promote bilateral cooperation and prepare the visit of President Álvaro Uribe. “The visit will coincide with the 200th anniversary of Colombia’s independence and 75 since the establishment of diplomatic relations between Russia and Colombia”, said Andrei Nesterenko, spokesperson for the Russian ministry.

During his three day official visit Bermudez met with the head of the Russian Commerce and Industry Chamber, former primer minister Yevgueni Primakov, held talks with Svetlana Zhurova, vice president of the Duma and gave a conference at the University of Peoples’ Friendship.

Bermudez also met with his counterpart Serguei Lavrov who visited Colombia in 2008.
But the main issue he addressed was Colombian president Uribe’s visit to Moscow. Besides, both countries face a common enemy, domestic terrorism.

“We hope to strengthen political dialogue and promote bilateral practical cooperation in several fields”, said Nesterenko who added that Colombia “is an important partner of Russia in Latin America and the level of contacts has been steadily in the increase”.

The Russian official revealed that Uribe’s visit has been under preparation for almost two years now.

Nesterenko said Russia was prepared to subscribe with Colombia an accord on “mutual judicial assistance for criminal cases”.

The proposal comes when the European Tribunal on Human Rights declared illegal the Russian decision to extradite to Colombia the former Israel Colonel Yai Klein who was condemned in absence for terrorist actions.

“The decision from the European Tribunal is a black day for human rights in the world, since it favours impunity for those who committed criminal actions such as Mr. Klein and his paramilitary pupils in Colombia. It simply denies truth and justice to their victims”, said Bermudez.

Colombia is also demanding the extradition to the US from Thailand of the Russian arms dealer Victor Bout, also known as the “merchant of death” and accused by Bogotá of trying to sell weapons to the Colombian guerrillas FARC.