FTA with Canada is “an additional guarantee for the rights of the workers”

At the end of the meeting with Prime Minister of Canada Stephen Harper in Ottawa, the Colombian Head of State reminded that the agreement between both countries will eliminate double tax paying, will stimulate investment and guarantees full respect for human and labor rights.

Otawa, Canada, June 10 (SP). The President of Colombia, Álvaro Uribe Vélez, said that the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) signed between Colombia and Canada includes elements which guarantee the rights of the workers in the country.

“For us is very important to know – and we want to communicate this to Canada and all Colombians – that this trade agreement with Canada is an agreement that will become an additional guarantee for the rights of the workers” the Leader said, after his meeting with the Prime Minister of Canada, Stephen Harper in the city of Ottawa.

The Head of State highlighted the reach of this agreement, which besides stimulating investment and eliminating double tax paying, guarantees full respect for human rights.

“Our Free Trade Agreement has also very important agreements to stimulate investment, eliminate double tax paying, guarantee full respect for human rights and particularly that chapter of human rights, which is respect for labor rights”, President Uribe highlighted.

In addition, he reminded that labor rights are supported by the Constitution, the Law and bilateral and multilateral agreements.

He added that investment from trade agreements are a great alternative against violence in Colombia, which for many year have subsisted from the production, commercialization and use of illegal drugs.

Fight against terrorism

President Álvaro Uribe also highlighted the commitment of Canada in the fight against terrorism and the support given to Colombia to fight this scourge.

“Canada is a strong country to helps us in the fight against terrorism, its Government has not hesitate to assist us, we feel grateful for the determination of Canada to support us in this fight”, the Leader pointed.

http://web.presidencia.gov.co/english/2009/junio/10102009_eng.html

By tasco66 on Jun 11, 2009, 12:36 in Politics & the war.

tasco66 says on Jun 11, 2009, 12:36:

There is a ‘positive evolution’ for the approval of the FTA with Canada: Uribe

The approval of the Free Trade Agreement, will allow Colombia to overcome poverty, build equity, have a dynamic economy and integrate the country to the largest economies of the world, said President Uribe who had a meeting with President of the Senate of Canada Noel A. Kinsella on Thursday in Ottawa.

Ottawa, Canada, June 11 (SP). President Álvaro Uribe Vélez looked confident that the Free Trade Agreement between Colombia and Canada will be approved, considering that his visit to that country has shown “a positive evolution” in that way.

“I should not, as President of the Republic, speak in advance, but if you insist, I think that there is a positive evolution, that makes me confident that some time we will have the approval of this agreement with Canada”, Uribe Vélez said to the press, before his meeting with the President of the Canadian Senate, Noel A. Kinsella.

The Head of State reminded that there have been negotiations for this agreement since 2002, and now it has an immense support from Prime Minister Stephen Harper.

“I am confident about this approval, which is very important to have more investment in Colombia. We can not, with 46 million people, with all that poverty, with so many problems, to get locked in our country, isolated from the world’s economy, that is why we make this efforts”, he said.

The President reminded that his government has moved forward in different integration agreements with the Andean - Mercosur Community, Chile, Central American countries, United States and now they are concluding negotiations with the European Union.

“We have signed agreements to eliminate double tax paying, to promote investment, a recent investment protection agreement with China, we have closed negotiations with India, we also negotiated with Switzerland and the European Federation of Commerce”, he added.

The Leader also said that there is a group of citizens who are against this type of agreements, and that is why they are trying to discredit the Government.

“There is a group of Colombian citizens who have the systematic goal of opposing this kind of agreements, they try to discredit the efforts of the Government and use this discredit to prevent the approval of the agreements. Then, with a lot of patience, we must insist in the meanings of these agreements, have arguments, refute hypothesis, explain, and that is what we are doing”, he finished.

http://web.presidencia.gov.co/english/2009/junio/02112009_eng.html

Newsweek on Uribe: "he's delivered the trifecta of peace, security, and prosperity"

0 funny, 0 helpful.