Getting better every day (Miami Herald)
13/07/2010
By Carolina Barco
Recently, Colombia achieved yet another milestone as Latin America's longest running democracy. Voters overwhelmingly elected former Defense Minister Juan Manuel Santos to replace President Alvaro Uribe, who, enjoying overwhelming popularity, will step down on August 7, after eight years and two very successful terms in office.

This peaceful election process is the conclusion of a campaign that included an array of candidates representing the full spectrum of political viewpoints. This process included significant voter turnout for both the primary and runoff elections, and a campaign marked by civility, constructive debate and healthy interaction with citizens throughout the country. It has marked a truly proud moment in the democratic history of Colombia.

President-elect Santos has had a long and successful public career as defense, finance and trade minister, and has an outstanding academic background. Joining President-elect Santos as Colombia's new Vice President is Angelino Garzón, a former national trade union leader, secretary of labor, regional governor and ambassador to the United Nations Office in Geneva, which covers the International Labor Organization. Vice President-elect Garzón's first meeting, hours after the election, was on the issue of protection of human rights.

President-elect Santos will have many challenges -- but he has been given a strong mandate by a country committed to democracy and the rule of law. The Colombia of today is not only a safer place, our country boasts an education system that now successfully sees 92 percent of the population through middle school and a healthcare system covering well over 80 percent of our citizens. This turnaround has led to a five-fold increase in tourism and a strong return of foreign investment, currently at over $10 billion a year.

And, while the past few decades have been dominated by the Colombian government's epic fight against powerful illicit drug cartels and a ruthless armed guerilla insurgency, we can now see the light at the end of the tunnel. According to the U.N. Regional Narcotics Report, released this week, coca cultivation dropped 58 percent in nine years, and cocaine production in Colombia dropped 59.7 percent from the year 2000 to 2009, the lowest numbers since 1999.

During the last eight years, the implementation of a peace process with paramilitary groups and the voluntary demobilization of individual guerrilla members resulted in more than 50,000 men and women laying down their arms -- with a corresponding reduction in violence. Homicides in Colombia dropped by 45 percent between 2002 and 2009, and the rate is now lower than in many major U.S. cities.

The decrease in overall violence, paired with a protection program aimed at vulnerable groups, has led to an 86-percent reduction in the level of homicides of union members. While any homicide is one too many, Colombia's progress is significant and will continue.

Our struggle is not over -- but no one can deny the tremendous progress that has been made over the last eight years under President Uribe's leadership, with the steadfast assistance and support of the United States. This path to progress will continue under the new president.

A country with a strong and capable workforce, a solid economy, unique environmental potential, rich biodiversity and a vibrant culture, Colombia is a key player in the region. We are also a democratic country, respectful of its institutions and the rule of law, principles that we share with the United States. It's a friendship we look forward to continuing to strengthen.

Carolina Barco is Colombia's ambassador to the United States.

Se pone mejor cada día (Miami Herald)
13/07/2010
Por: Carolina Barco
Recientemente, Colombia logra otro hito en América Latina que más ha durado la democracia. Los votantes eligieron mayoritariamente el ex ministro de Defensa Juan Manuel Santos, para reemplazar al presidente Alvaro Uribe, quien, la popularidad de que goza abrumadora, dejará el cargo el 7 de agosto, después de ocho años y dos términos de gran éxito en el cargo.

Este proceso electoral pacífica es la conclusión de una campaña que incluyó una serie de candidatos que representan todo el espectro de puntos de vista políticos. Este proceso incluyó la participación electoral significativo, tanto para la segunda vuelta electoral primaria y, y una campaña marcada por la civilidad, el debate constructivo y sana interacción con los ciudadanos en todo el país. Ha marcado un momento verdaderamente orgullosos de la historia democrática de Colombia.

El presidente electo Santos ha tenido una carrera pública larga y exitosa como la defensa, las finanzas y ministro de Comercio, y tiene una formación académica excepcional. Unirse a presidente electo de Santos como nuevo presidente de Colombia El vicio es Angelino Garzón, un ex líder sindical nacional, ministro de Trabajo, el gobernador regional y embajador ante la Oficina de las Naciones Unidas en Ginebra, que cubre la Organización Internacional del Trabajo. El vicepresidente electo primer encuentro de Garzón, horas después de las elecciones, fue en la cuestión de la protección de los derechos humanos.

Santos Presidente electo tendrá muchas dificultades - pero se le ha dado un fuerte mandato por un país comprometido con la democracia y el imperio de la ley. La Colombia de hoy es no sólo un lugar más seguro, nuestro país cuenta con un sistema educativo que ahora ve con éxito el 92 por ciento de la población a través de la escuela media y un sistema de salud que cubre más del 80 por ciento de nuestros ciudadanos. Este cambio ha dado lugar a un incremento de cinco veces en el turismo y un fuerte retorno de la inversión extranjera, en la actualidad en más de $ 10 mil millones al año.

Y, si bien las últimas décadas han estado dominados por la lucha épica del gobierno colombiano contra los poderosos