Cartagena, May 6 (SP). Invited by the President of Colombia, Alvaro Uribe Vélez, Álvaro Colom Caballeros, President of Guatemala made an Official Visit to the Republic of Colombia on May 6 2009, in which he participated in the “I International Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration Congress” held in the City of Cartagena de Indias.

After the Congress, where President Colom made a review about the post armed conflict Guatemalan experience, the Leaders held a bilateral meeting in which they talked about the extend agenda shared by both countries.

Among other subjects, President Uribe showed gratitude and accepted President Colom’s invitation to make a State Visit to Guatemala next August, in order to deepen existing friendship and cooperation relations between both countries.

The Leaders highlighted the grade of cooperation in the field of security of both countries and they committed to strengthen it to achieve effective results in the fight against organized transnational crime. In that way, the Presidents asked their Ministers to make the next meeting of the High Level and Security Group in Guatemala on June, so both security agencies of the countries can establish a work plan and develop new strategies for the fight against all the threats to security, including the world’s drug and terrorism problematic.

Before the meeting of the Presidents Uribe and Colom, the high level teams of security of both countries, held a meeting to go through the programs developed between Guatemala and Colombia, as well, they defined and structured new areas to work together.

The President of Guatemala thanked President Uribe for the bio-diesel plant that the Government of Colombia will give to the Government of Guatemala, and will be located at the Jocotán town (Chiquimula – Guatemala), one of the 45 towns declared in extreme poverty  in Guatemala and a zone with  great supplies of raw material (jartropha) for the production of the plant. The Heads of State agreed to inaugurate the first stage during the Visit of State that President Uribe will make to Guatemala next August.

The leaders guided the responsible institutions to prepare the launch of the bio-diesel plant, prioritize social cohesion subjects and approve projects that have counterentry to its implementation during the VI Meeting of the Mix Cooperation Commission, which will be held on May 14 and 15 2009.

The Presidents underlined the importance of a prompt enforcement of the Free Trade Agreement between Colombia and the North Triangle of Central America and celebrated the approval by both countries’ Congress of the text. In addition they asked the private industry of Colombia and Guatemala to give a good use to this tool that will allow a significant growth of the commercial and investment exchange.

Both leaders expressed their worry about the AH1N1 virus, which is affecting the occidental hemisphere and agreed to keep channels of communication through the Ministries of Health and exchange pertinent information, and they showed solidarity with the people and Government of Mexico for the deaths that this epidemic has caused in the country.

Besides, the Presidents highlighted the large agenda developed by the First Lady of Guatemala, Mrs. Sandra Torres de Colom at the Official Visit, in which she held a meeting with the First Lady of Colombia, Mrs. Lina Moreno de Uribe and also had other work meetings with employees of the Government of Colombia in charge of social projects and programs.

President Colom thanked President Uribe in his name and his delegation for the hospitality and attention received by the Government and the people of Colombia during his Official Visit.

Subscribed in the City of Cartagena de Indias on May 6 2009