Peruvian, Columbian presidents hold first bilateral meeting

World Today

The presidents of Peru and Colombia held their first joint bilateral cabinet meeting this week. The talks touched on many topics, but mainly focused on the countries’ shared border, how to strengthen security, and how to combat drug and contraband smuggling. CCTV America’s Dan Collyns reports.

It was the first meeting between the presidents and their entire cabinets. The agenda included discussions on tackling crime and poverty, particularly along the sparsely populated Putumayo River which divides the two nations.

“We’re going to clean up the Putumayo, clear it of criminality, but also clear it of poverty and inequality. We must fight against the different types of crime which are affecting our populations such as drug trafficking, and illegal logging and mining.” – Juan Manuel Santos, President of Colombia

Another hot topic in the bilateral meeting was how to tighten controls and improve security on Peru and Colombia’s shared border in the Amazon rainforest. The frontier is fast becoming a new axis for the cocaine trade and other illegal activities. Both presidents said the area needs urgent attention.

Even before this bilateral meeting, our armed forces and police forces, Colombian and Peruvian, were working together in a coordinated way.” – Ollanta Humala, President of Peru

Both countries also pledged to boost infrastructure and access to healthcare and education through 11 agreements.