LatinNews Daily - 15 May 2017

Chile: On 5 May, Chile’s foreign minister, Heraldo Muñoz, held bilateral meetings in Washington DC with the US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and the secretary-general of the Organization of American States (OAS), Luis Almagro. A press release by Chile’s foreign ministry notes that the meeting was the first high-level encounter between the Chilean government led by President Michelle Bachelet and the new US administration led by President Donald Trump. The press release notes that “in the meeting, the authorities addressed diverse issues that demonstrate the excellent bilateral relationship between both countries”. In particular, it highlighted the fact that the two countries “have an extremely productive 13-year bilateral trade agreement" and pointed out that Chile is the only country in Latin America that has visa exemption to enter the country, known as the Visa Waiver Program. According to the press release, other issues addressed “were the Pacific Alliance, Haiti, Central America, and triangular cooperation” along with Colombia. The statement cites Muñoz as saying that “Chile has a strong commitment to the peace process in Colombia. For this process, Chile has observers verifying the peace agreement with the Farc [Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia guerrilla group] is accomplished. Also, we are a guarantor country of the conversations between the Colombian government and the Ejército de Liberación Nacional [ELN, another guerrilla group]”. Finally, the statement notes that Muñoz discussed Venezuela’s political crisis with both Tillerson and Almagro. “Chile would like our fellow country to negotiate and get a diplomatic solution for their crisis”, the statement reads, “we will collaborate in whatever way possible to end this crisis and begin the installation of a democratic and constitutional order in Venezuela”.

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