NORTH AFRICA
ALGERIA
The diplomatic relations between Colombia and Algeria were established in 1979.
Because of strict budgetary reasons, Colombia closed the Embassy in Algeria in 1994. As of 1995, this African country has an Embassy in Bogotá.
Colombia maintains close ties of friendship with this country. Both countries actively participate in the Non-Aligned Movement. The Summit of South American-Arab Countries (SAAC, or ASPA in Spanish) has become an important gathering scenario to promote commercial, cooperation and cultural matters.
The bilateral agenda is extensive and dynamic. The Embassy of Colombia in Madrid, Spain is concurrent to the Government of Algeria.
Meetings
- June 8, 2011 (Bogotá): Political consultations between the General Director for the Americas of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Algeria, H.E. Sabri Boukadoum, and the Vice-ministers of Foreign Affairs, Ms. Mónica Lanzetta Mutis, and of Multilateral Affairs, Ms. Patti Londoño Jaramillo.
- May 7, 2010 (Bogotá): Political consultations between the General Director for the Americas of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Algeria, H.E. Sabri Boukadoum, and the Vice-minister of Foreign Affairs of Colombia, Ms. Clemencia Forero Ucrós.
- September 16, 2006 (Havana): Political consultations between the President of the Republic of Algeria, H.E. Abdelaziz Bouteflika, and the Colombian Vice-president, Francisco Santos Calderón during the XIV Summit of the Non-Aligned Movement.
- September 2005 (New York): Political consultations between the President of Algeria, H.E. Abdelaziz Bouteflika, and his Colombian counterpart, H.E. Álvaro Uribe Vélez, at the UN headquarters, during the UN World Summit.
- May 9, 1997 (Algiers): Official visit of President Ernesto Samper Pizano to Algeria.
Agreements in Force
- January 24, 2007 (Bogotá) Cultural Cooperation Agreement
- May 14, 1997 (Algiers), Brotherhood Agreement between the cities of Cherchell and Cartagena.
- May 10, 1997 (Algiers), Commercial Agreement between the Government of the Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria and the Government of the Republic of Colombia, ratified by Presidential Decree No. 97/505 of December 29,1997 (which updates the commercial agreement of 1981).
EGYPT
Colombia and Egypt established relations in January 23, 1957. Colombia has an Embassy in Cairo and Egypt has as Embassy in Bogotá.
Colombia has a presence since 1982 with Colombian Battalion No. 3 in the Multinational Force of Observers (M.F.O.) that monitors the border between this country and Israel.
Meetings
- November 2009 (Bogotá): Visit of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Hisham El-Zimaity, to advance in cultural and cooperation matters, receive information on the results obtained from the meeting with the Minister of the United Arab Emirates and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and obtain information on the cooperation in military matters with the United States.
- November 2007 (Bogotá): Visit of the Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs for North and South American Matters, Mr. Hatem Seilf El Nasr, who presented a message from the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Egypt to Chancellor Araujo.
- September 2006 (Havana):The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ms. María Consuelo Araujo met with her Egyptian counterpart, Ahmed Aboul Gheit, at the Non-Aligned Summit.
- May 2005 (Bogotá): The Vice-minister, Shadia Farrag, Assistant of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for America, visited the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Colombia, Carolina Barco.
Agreements in Force
- November 4, 2009. Agreement between the Diplomatic Academies of Colombia and Egypt. Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Academy of San Carlos – and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Arab Republic of Egypt – Institute of Diplomatic Studies.
- July 23, 1981. Commercial Agreement between the Arab Republic of Egypt and the Republic of Colombia. Approved by Law 56 of 1986, Official Journal No.37.696; ratification instruments exchanged in El Cairo on July 16, 1990; Enactment Decree 214 of 1992.
- July 23, 1981. Basic Technical and Scientific Cooperation Agreement between the Governments of the Republic of Colombia and the Arab Republic of Egypt. Approved by Law 29 of 1984, Official Journal No.36.790; ratification instruments exchanged in Bogotá on July 16, 1985.
- March 24, 1960 (Bogotá). Cultural Agreement between the Republic of Colombia and the United Arab Republic, approved by Law 11 of 1968, Official Journal No.32.444; ratification instruments exchanged in Bogotá on October 31, 1968.
MOROCCO
Relations between the two countries were established in 1979. Morocco has an Embassy in Bogotá since 1986. Because of budgetary reasons Colombia closed its Embassy in 2002. At present, the Embassy of Colombia in Madrid is concurrent to Morocco.
Meetings
- April 4, 2011. Visit of the Vice-minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of the Kingdom of Morocco, Mr. Youssef Amrani, to the Vice-minister of Multilateral Affairs, Ms. Patti Londoño.
- May 7, 2010. Visit of the General Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of the Kingdom of Morocco.
- April 25, 2010. Visit of Chancellor Jaime Bermúdez to the Kingdom of Morocco on April 25 and 26.
- October 2009. The visit of the Chairman of the Consulting Council for Human Rights of the Kingdom of Morocco, Mr. Ahmed Herzenni, invited by the Human Rights Committee of the Senate of the Republic of Colombia.
- April 2009. Meeting of the Delegate of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Morocco, H.E. Latifa Akharbach and the Vice-minister of Multilateral Affairs, within the framework of the Ministerial Meeting of the NAM Movement in Havana, Cuba. The Delegate expressed that her government was aware of the definition of the future date for the Joint Committee to be held in her country.
Agreements in Force
- October 13, 2006. Memorandum of Understanding in Matters of Research, Development and Mining Production.
- March 8, 2000. Tourism Cooperation Agreement.
- May 9, 1997. Agreement for the suppression of tourism visas to holders of diplomatic, official and service Passports.
- May 9, 1997. Program of Education, Scientific and Cultural Cooperation. In force provisionally.
- June 22, 1995. Commercial Agreement. Approved by Law 496 of February 8, 1999.
- October 19, 1992. Technical and Scientific Cooperation Agreement. Approved by Law 283 of June 7, 1996.
- December 13, 1991. Cultural Agreement. Approved by Law 371 of May 27, 1997.
MIDDLE EAST
ISRAEL
Colombia recognized the State of Israel in February 1949 and established diplomatic relations on July 1st, 1957, which are characterized by a good level of understanding, cooperation and solidarity.
The position of Colombia throughout history regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has been characterized by the balance between the political interests of the country and the respect for the principles and rules of International Law. In this order of ideas, our country has maintained its position of recognizing the right of Israel to live within safe, internationally recognized borders, free of threats and acts of force; and in the same conditions support the aspiration of the Palestinian people to establish as a free and independent State within the region.
Furthermore, Israel is our main partner in the region and Colombia is its second commercial partner in South America after Brazil. The bilateral relations have strengthened through high level visits.
Israel has a great economic potential and there is great potential of complementing Colombian markets.
Meetings
- July 28, 2009. During his Latin American tour, Minister Liberman visited Colombia. In this visit he met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Jaime Bermúdez, and also with representatives of the Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of Commerce, the Ministry of Industry and Tourism and the Ministry of the Treasury and Public Credit.
- April 2009: Minister Jaime Bermúdez visited Israel, where he held meetings with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the President, the Minister of Industry and Commerce and Labor, among others.
Agreements in Force
- July 28, 2009. Memorandum of Understanding for the establishment of Bilateral Consultations between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Government of Colombia and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the State of Israel, in order to strengthen and energize political dialogue between the two countries in matters of regional policy.
- September 22, 1986. Commercial and Economic Cooperation Agreement, entered into in Bogotá.
- December 18, 1967. Commercial Agreement, entered into in Bogotá.
- January 15, 1965. General Technical Cooperation Agreement, entered into in Bogotá.
- June 11, 1962. Cultural Exchange Marco Agreement, entered into in Bogotá
PALESTINE
Diplomatic relations were established on October 3, 1988. The Special Mission of Palestine in Colombia was established in 1996. The Embassy of Colombia in Cairo is concurrent to the Palestinian Authority, and the Consular Section of the Embassy of Tel Aviv attends consular matters.
Colombia advocates for a balance between the simultaneous rights of the Palestinian and Israeli people and supports all the initiatives for its political peace and stabilization.
Meetings
- July 7, 2008. Official visit to Colombia of Mr. Riad M. Malki, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Palestine.
LEBANON
Through history, Lebanon had become the country through which Colombia developed its relations with the Middle East.
The relations between Colombia and Lebanon started in 1948 at the establishment of the Legation of Colombia in September 1960, which then became the Colombian Embassy in Beirut. Currently, Lebanon keeps its Embassy in Bogotá.
Many Colombian companies have been founded by Lebanese citizens and their descendants, who take active part in politics, with an important representation in positions of popular election at all levels.
Lebanon and Colombia have strengthened their commercial relations by means of livestock sales from Colombia to Lebanon through the Colombian Agricultural Institute (ICA).
Meetings
- July 10 to 14, 2009. The Vice president of Colombia Francisco Santos, visited Lebanon. These two countries have made their relationship stronger by means of livestock sales from Colombia to that country.
Agreements in Force
- June 6, 1961. Cultural agreement signed on June 6, 1961, enforced on June 15, 2001.
COUNTRIES OF THE ARAB WORLD
With these countries we have opportunities to add dynamics to the commercial relations and investments, since their economies are a complement to ours. Colombia can supply basic products and light industry demanded by the region. Likewise, our country offers investment opportunities in the areas of infrastructure development, agriculture and mining.
In August 2011, Colombia opened its diplomatic representation in the United Arab Emirates, the second economy of the Arab world.
Colombia is currently in conversations with Kuwait for the Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement; with other countries of the region, Colombia is currently in negotiations in the field of aeronautics, which is expected to boost commerce and tourism.
Meetings
- November 2009. Foreign Minister Jaime Bermúdez visited the United Arab Emirates.
- October 2009. Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdulla Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, from the United Arab Emirates visited the country, as part of his tour of Latin America to strengthen the ties with the region.
Agreements in Force
- June 2009. Memorandum of Understanding between the Civil Aviation authorities of Colombia and the United Arab Emirates. June 2009.
