How does Iván Duque see the future of democracy in Latin America?
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(CNN Spanish) -
The president of Colombia, Iván Duque, who has just finished a visit to the Middle East, has been a strong critic of the governments of Nicaragua and Venezuela and reiterates his position to call on those leaders —Daniel Ortega and Nicolás Maduro - dictators.
"We cannot assume that democracy is protected (in Latin America). We see the
dictatorship
in Venezuela, which became a dictatorship, and today we know its consequences. Now we see the autocracy in Nicaragua that becomes a dictatorship and we are going to see its consequences," he said Duque this Tuesday in Tel Aviv in an interview with José Levy, international correspondent for CNN en Español.
"That is why I presented an advisory opinion to the Inter-American Court of Human Rights on indefinite re-elections and that advisory opinion was expressed by the Court, saying that indefinite re-elections are a way to destroy the essence of democracy. So we have to unite more and more. our voices to defend the Inter-American Democratic Charter, "said the Colombian president.
This Sunday elections were held in Nicaragua, considered by many internationally as illegitimate because President Daniel Ortega did not face real competition after the arrest and persecution of his political rivals.
On Venezuela, opinion is going the same way.
Duque has been one of Maduro's biggest opponents on the regional scale.
"I am not going to recognize Nicolás Maduro as a legitimate president because he is not," he said.
Duque defines Maduro as "the most disgraceful dictator Latin America has seen in its recent history."
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The relationship with Iran
This week, Colombian Defense Minister Diego Molano called Iran an "enemy" despite the fact that it is a country with which Colombia has bilateral relations.
On the same day, Duque intervened, clarifying: "Colombia has maintained diplomatic relations with Iran," but pointed out that the Latin American country is "very clear about the terrorist threats and that is why in the same diplomatic dialogue we have the ability to ask many countries what is the type of relationship they may have with those units ".
In this regard, Duque told CNN that although Colombia has diplomatic relations with Iran, "that does not mean that we have a blank check from which we agree with Iran on all issues."
According to Duque, "he has always raised our voice when there is any link between States and terrorist organizations in the world. So, if there is evidence and there are demonstrations about that, we will always raise our voice."
Duque explained that Colombia, which is now part of the Governance Council of the International Atomic Energy Agency, supports "the concept of nuclear non-proliferation" and that his government is "concerned that the supervision of personnel from the International Atomic Energy Agency on the various developments in Iran. "
"We are clear that we categorically reject any development of nuclear weapons that puts humanity and any region of the world at risk."
President Duque says his government and international media have denounced the presence of the pro-Iranian Hezbollah movement on Venezuela's border with Colombia.
"It is clear that Hezbollah has had interests and has structures in Venezuela. That is not news to anyone."
"In Colombia we have captured people who are allegedly behind acts of terrorism and we have done it collaborating with international intelligence agencies," Duque said.
"Colombia updated its list of terrorist organizations, including Hezbollah as well."
The attack against Duque
Duque announced on Saturday on his Twitter account that the alleged mastermind of the attack on the helicopter that was transporting him from the Sardinata municipality to the city of Cúcuta on June 25 was arrested.
“Those who intend to sow terror will not be able to escape the actions of our #Public Force.
In the municipality of El Tarra, Norte de Santander, alias “Aurelio” was captured, the alleged mastermind and material author of the attack on the presidential helicopter on June 25 in Cúcuta, ”wrote Duque on his official Twitter account.
The president told José Levy that "it was a difficult moment, especially because we were going in a helicopter with several people (...) I thought of them, their families, their lives. But when everything went well and we managed to overcome such adversity, I celebrated life. And for that every day, I also thank God. "
This is what Iván Duque thought when his helicopter was shot in June 1:04
Daniel Ortega Hezbollah Iván Duque Nicolás Maduro