Secretary Rice: Travel to Colombia, January 24-25, 2008

U.S.-Colombia Free Trade Agreement Secretary Rice (Jan. 24): "...The Bush Administration's support for the FTA is not because we believe that the Colombian story is perfect or complete, but because we believe that in the context of the growth and economic activity that the free trade agreement will produce, Colombia will be better able to meet its problems and meet its challenges and forge a future ahead."

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice led a congressional delegation to Medellin, Colombia January 24 to 25 to discuss bilateral trade, including the U.S.-Colombia Free Trade Agreement, and security issues. She was accompanied by Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs Thomas A. Shannon, Assistant Secretary of State for Economic, Energy, and Business Affairs Daniel Sullivan, and Assistant Secretary of State for Legislative Affairs Dr. Jeffrey Bergner. While in Colombia, Secretary Rice and the delegation met with Colombian government officials, trade union leaders, and representatives from the private sector. --01/25/08 Joint Press Conference With President of Colombia Alvaro Uribe and Congressman Eliot Engel --01/24/08 Remarks at Private Sector and Opinion Leaders Reception | Video of Excerpt --01/24/08 Remarks En route Medellin, Colombia --01/23/08 Advance Briefing of the Secretary’s Trip to Colombia