The Colombian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Álvaro Leyva, has assured on Wednesday that diplomatic relations with Guatemala are not in danger, after in the last few days both governments have been at loggerheads over the accusation made by the Guatemalan Attorney General’s Office against the Minister of Defense, Iván Velásquez.
«What is happening is absolutely ridiculous», said Leyva, who clarified that this matter is not a matter of the Government of Guatemala, but of «a prosecutor who is being investigated by the United States», referring to Rafael Curruchiche, sanctioned in mid 2022 for «obstructing investigations on corruption».
«We reject the imputation that is being made to the Minister of Defense. If there is someone who really proved to be a guarantor in everything that had to do with what was presented in Guatemala, it was Velasquez», emphasized Leyva in RCN.
As a consequence, both governments called for consultations to the ambassadors of the other country in their territory, «a natural response», Leyva said, while the presidents engaged in a cross-exchange of statements, with the Guatemalan Alejandro Giammattei making reference to Gustavo Petro’s guerrilla past.
However, Leyva has stated that the request to Colombia’s representative in Guatemala to return and «talk» does not mean that relations with that country will be revised, but rather to shed «clarity» on the whole matter.
«It is said that there is an investigation, we want to know about it», said Leyva regarding the accusation that implicates Minister Velásquez in the corrupt web woven by the Brazilian construction company Odebrecth when he was part of the International Commission Against Impunity in Guatemala.
Source: (EUROPA PRESS)
