Statement following a meeting between President Higgins and former President of Colombia H.E. Juan Manuel Santos
Date: Thu 15th Nov, 2018 | 17:13
Today, Thursday 15 November 2018, President Michael D. Higgins received former President of Colombia H.E. Juan Manuel Santos, winner of the Nobel Peace Prize and recipient of the Tipperary International Peace Award, at Áras an Uachtaráín.
President Higgins has met with former President Santos on a number of occasions, including in April this year, at the United Nations High-Level Meeting on Peacebuilding and Sustaining Peace, and in February 2017 during the President’s Official Visit to Colombia.
At today’s meeting, the two leaders discussed a wide range of issues of mutual concern, including the challenges to the peace processes in Ireland and Colombia. They also spoke at length about the Brexit process, the challenges of addressing the root causes of involuntary international migration, and the necessary steps to effectively combat climate change, violent conflict and growing inequality.
President Higgins thanked former President Santos for his outstanding leadership in bringing to an end a 50-year armed conflict in Colombia, that has laid waste so many lives.
The discussions also focused on the growing cooperation between Colombia and Ireland, and stressed the need to ensure that the growing economic prosperity in both countries contributes to greater social cohesion and solidarity.