In his message to the Diplomatic Corps accredited in Colombia, President Álvaro Uribe said that the National Government hopes to finalize negotiations for the trade agreement with the European Union in a few days.

Bogota, Feb 3 (SP). The Free Trade Agreement with the United States can turn into an instrument to generate confidence among the international community and that way promote   investment in Colombia, President Álvaro Uribe said during his message to the Diplomatic Corps accredited in Colombia.

“I am sure that in a first stage, we will see the most important effect of that agreement in two expressions: first, other countries will be confident to make agreements with Colombia; and second, an agreement with the United States is a great motivation for investment in Colombia”, the Head of State pointed out.

Uribe also reiterated his satisfaction for the speech of the President of the United States, Barack Obama, in which he announced that he hopes to strength trade relations with Colombia.

“We have received with joy the words of President Obama, in his recent speech to the Nation, before the Congress of his country”, the Colombian President said.

In his message for the group of foreign diplomats, President Uribe also said that the National Government hopes to finalize negotiations for the trade agreement with the European Union in a few days.

“We hope that soon we can close negotiations with the European Union, and we know that we have to move forward in the difficult task of obtaining the ratification of the European Parliament. We have advanced with many countries. And we thank all diplomatic delegations, led by you, for all your efforts”, he said.

In addition, he highlighted the reach of the agreements that Colombia has signed with some Asian countries, and he pointed out how the country is interested in moving forward with the agreements with Korea and Singapore.

“Those are some paths so Colombia, with 1.300 kilometers of Pacific Coast, can begin a link with Pacific Asia”, Uribe pointed out.

He also expressed that he expect that Colombia will have access to more than 50 markets in the world, in a short time, thanks to the work of the Minister of Commerce, Industry and Tourism, Luis Guillermo Plata, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Jaime Bermúdez.