[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 19 (Tuesday, February 2, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Pages S252-S253]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS

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 SENATE RESOLUTION 24--SUPPORTING EFFORTS BY THE GOVERNMENT AND PEOPLE 
           OF COLOMBIA TO PURSUE PEACE AND REGIONAL STABILITY

  Mr. CARDIN (for himself and Mr. Blunt) submitted the following 
resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations:

                               S. Res. 24

       Whereas, in 2016, the Government of Colombia concluded a 
     historic peace agreement with the Revolutionary Armed Forces 
     of Colombia-People's Army (FARC-EP) aimed at addressing the 
     historical causes of the half-a-century armed conflict in 
     Colombia, and the Government of Colombia is currently working 
     to implement that agreement;
       Whereas the Governments and people of the United States and 
     Colombia have forged a resolute bond through a shared 
     commitment to support peace, human rights, democracy, the 
     rule of law, and security throughout the Western Hemisphere 
     and the world, which has been bolstered by the support of 
     hundreds of thousands of Colombian-Americans and their 
     contributions to life in the United States;
       Whereas, in 2000, the Government of Colombia achieved a 
     national consensus to build state capacity, and the United 
     States committed to combat organized crime, drugs, and 
     violence through its foreign assistance in support of Plan 
     Colombia;
       Whereas Plan Colombia and its successor, Peace Colombia, 
     have received consistent support from each United States 
     President since 1999, and from both Democrats and Republicans 
     in the United States Congress;
       Whereas, while the Government of Colombia contributed more 
     than 95 percent of funds over the duration of Plan Colombia, 
     the political leadership, technical advice, military 
     assistance, and intelligence-sharing role of the United 
     States, along with the $11,000,000,000 appropriated by the 
     United States Congress through Plan Colombia and Peace 
     Colombia to combat narcotics trafficking and transnational 
     criminal organizations, strengthen democratic governance, 
     promote economic growth, and defend human rights, played a 
     key role in helping to transform a country on the brink of 
     collapse into an increasingly peaceful and prosperous 
     democracy, while also safeguarding important United States 
     interests;
       Whereas the Government of Colombia has made major 
     investments and shown strong leadership, often at great cost 
     and sacrifice, to consolidate domestic security, 
     socioeconomic development, and the rule of law;
       Whereas, since 2000, levels of crime and violence have 
     decreased significantly in Colombia, with annual per capita 
     homicide rates declining from 62 per 100,000 people in 1999 
     to a low of 24.5 per 100,000 people in 2015;
       Whereas the alignment of improved security and sound 
     economic policies has translated into steady growth in the 
     gross domestic product of Colombia, which increased from 
     approximately $86,000,000,000 in 1999 to more than 
     $309,000,000,000 in 2017, and led to greater foreign direct 
     investment, which grew from approximately $1,500,000,000 in 
     1999 to one of the highest in Latin America at an estimated 
     $14,000,000,000 in 2017;
       Whereas the United States and Colombia enjoy a robust 
     economic relationship, with United States goods and services 
     trade with Colombia totaling an estimated $36,400,000,000 in 
     2017, supporting more than 100,000 jobs in the United States;
       Whereas the Government of Colombia has made impressive 
     strides in reducing poverty since 2005, with the poverty rate 
     decreasing from 64 percent in 1999 to 27 percent in 2017, 
     according to the World Bank;
       Whereas, since 1999, the Government of Colombia has 
     expanded its presence across all 32 territorial departments, 
     has contributed to the professionalism of the Colombian 
     judiciary, and has improved the capacity of the Army, Navy, 
     Air Force, and National Police of Colombia;
       Whereas Colombia is one of the United States' most 
     consistent and strategic partners through its support of 
     United States diplomatic objectives at the United Nations and 
     efforts made in combating transnational organized crime and 
     increased security and rule of law abroad;
       Whereas, in 2017, Colombia signed a Memorandum of 
     Understanding with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization 
     (NATO) and became the first NATO partner country in Latin 
     America;
       Whereas the gains Colombia has made are threatened by an 
     escalating crisis in Venezuela, which has led to an influx of 
     more than 1,800,000 Venezuelans into Colombia, and the need 
     for continued financial support to implement the peace 
     agreement;
       Whereas the internal armed conflict victimized all 
     Colombians, including women, children, and Afro-descendant 
     and indigenous peoples, resulted in one of the largest 
     populations of internally displaced persons in the world, and 
     has led to the repeated targeting of leading representatives 
     of civil society, including trade unionists, journalists, 
     human rights defenders, and other community activists who 
     remain at grave risk from guerrilla groups, successors to 
     paramilitary groups, organized criminal organizations, and 
     corrupt officials and individuals;
       Whereas efforts to achieve lasting peace in Colombia must 
     address the hardships faced by victims of the armed conflict, 
     including implementing the Law on Victims and Restitution of 
     Land of 2011;
       Whereas the prospects for national reconciliation and 
     sustainable peace in Colombia rely on the effective delivery 
     of justice for victims of the conflict, long-term solutions 
     for individuals who have been displaced, and the ability to 
     hold accountable perpetrators of violations of human rights 
     and international humanitarian law, particularly obligations 
     under Article 3 of the Geneva Convention relative to the 
     Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, done at Geneva 
     August 12, 1949 (commonly referred to as the ``Fourth Geneva 
     Convention'');
       Whereas the work of the Special Jurisdiction for Peace, the 
     transitional justice mechanism created for the purpose of 
     ensuring accountability in the context of Colombia's internal 
     armed conflict, is fundamental to the implementation of the 
     peace agreement and the consolidation of peace in the 
     country;
       Whereas implementation of the peace agreement faces serious 
     challenges, including a dramatic increase of coca cultivation 
     and cocaine production, a spike in violent attacks against 
     civilians, including social leaders implementing peace 
     agreement programs, and the enormous burden of a mass exodus 
     of Venezuelans fleeing the authoritarian regime of Nicolas 
     Maduro; and
       Whereas, on August 29, 2019, Luciano Marin Arango, also 
     known as Ivan Marquez, and

[[Page S253]]

     Seuxis Hernandez Solarte, also known as Jesus Santrich, along 
     with other members of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of 
     Colombia (FARC), publicly called for the renewal of armed 
     conflict in Colombia and for increased cooperation between 
     the FARC and the National Liberation Army (ELN), two 
     organizations that are designated by the United States as 
     foreign terrorist organizations under section 219 of the 
     Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1189): Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) reaffirms the steadfast support of the Government and 
     people of the United States for the people of Colombia in 
     their pursuit of peace and stability so they can live in a 
     country free of violence, impunity, injustice, and organized 
     crime;
       (2) lauds efforts to bring an end to Colombia's internal 
     armed conflict;
       (3) commends the work of the United Nations Verification 
     Mission in Colombia in overseeing the implementation of the 
     2016 peace agreement and the disarmament and reintegration of 
     former combatants;
       (4) urges authorities in Colombia to hold accountable 
     perpetrators of violations of human rights and international 
     humanitarian law, particularly obligations under the Geneva 
     Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in 
     Time of War, done at Geneva August 12, 1949 (commonly 
     referred to as the ``Fourth Geneva Convention'');
       (5) encourages the Government of Colombia to protect 
     vulnerable populations who remain at risk in Colombia, 
     including defenders of human rights, individuals facing 
     threats due to participation in crop substitution programs, 
     internally displaced persons, Afro-descendant and indigenous 
     leaders and communities, and demobilized combatants;
       (6) condemns the assassinations of social leaders and 
     demobilized combatants, and the decision of certain senior 
     members of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) 
     to return to arms and hostilities and strengthen their 
     alliance with the National Liberation Army (ELN), which 
     threatens the consolidation of lasting peace;
       (7) reaffirms the importance of the extradition treaty 
     between Colombia and the United States as an important part 
     of the bilateral relationship that has promoted the interests 
     of justice in both countries for decades;
       (8) encourages the Secretary of State to develop a 
     comprehensive strategy to assist the Government of Colombia 
     in managing the impacts of the crisis in Venezuela while 
     continuing the successful implementation and sustainability 
     of the peace agreement and stabilization of territories 
     previously in conflict in Colombia, and to further strengthen 
     the close bilateral partnership between the United States and 
     Colombia;
       (9) reaffirms its commitment to its partnership with the 
     Government and people of Colombia on issues of mutual 
     interest, including security, counter-narcotics cooperation, 
     combating transnational organized crime, ensuring justice for 
     individuals who have caused harm to populations in the United 
     States and Colombia, reintegration of former FARC combatants, 
     inclusive economic growth and investment with a focus on 
     disadvantaged communities, health cooperation, and 
     educational and cultural exchanges that strengthen diplomatic 
     relations; and
       (10) commits to furthering the bilateral relationship 
     between the United States and Colombia by working with 
     leaders in the public and private sectors, as well as civil 
     society in both countries, to ensure that the United States-
     Colombia relationship remains a pillar of United States 
     foreign policy in the Western Hemisphere.

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