France’s European Affairs minister, Pierre Lellouche, said during a conference at Bogota’s Universidad Javeriana that his nation will back Colombia’s bid for a seat on the United Nations (U.N.) Security Council, and expressed France’s solidarity with Colombia in the fight against terrorism.
“The fight for security is something that we care about a lot and we know that Colombia wants to affirm its diplomacy in the world, this is something very positive, particularly if Colombia decides to present itself as a member of the Security Council, an event which could happen in the next few years,” said Lellouche.
The Colombian Foreign Ministry confirmed that Colombia hopes to get a seat on the Security Council in 2011, and said that France’s backing was a “positive” step towards this.
Colombia last held a non-permanent place on the council from 2001-2002.
Lellouche is in Colombia to represent French President Nicolas Sarkozy at the August 7 inauguration of Colombian President-elect Juan Manuel Santos.
