WASHINGTON (AFP) — President Barack Obama said Monday he was confident the United States and Colombia would ultimately reach a deal on a stalled free trade pact, after talks with Colombian President Alvaro Uribe.
Obama also commended Uribe for improvements on respect for human rights in the South American nation but added that more needed to be done, and said his guest had shown "diligence and courage" in combating drug cartels and economic problems.
He said he had told US trade representative Ron Kirk to begin working closely with Uribe's team on bringing the free trade pact, agreed with the former Bush administration in 2006 but never ratified by Congress, into force.
"There are obvious difficulties involved in the process and there remains work to do, but I am confident that ultimately we (will) strike a deal that is good for the people of Colombia and good for the people of the United States."
Obama said he had also "commended President Uribe on the progress that has been made on human rights in Colombia and dealing with the killings of labor leaders there."
"President Uribe acknowledges that there remains more work to be done."
The free trade pact has been held up in the US Congress by Democrats concerned about the alleged persecution of labor union members in Colombia and concerns over human rights more generally.
"We look forward to cooperating with (Uribe) to continue to improve both the rights of organized labors in Colombia and to protect both labor and civil rights leaders there," Obama said.
The two leaders also discussed the coup in Honduras, which Obama said was a throwback to a "dark past" in the Western Hemisphere, adding that as far as Washington was concerned, ousted leader Manuel Zelaya remained president.
Uribe, who was a close ally of former president George W. Bush, said that he was committed to advancing democracy and respect for human rights in his country.
"The help of your government is very important for the whole of the new generations of Colombians," he said.
"I consider that Colombia needs to extend... security, democratic balance, investment, social responsibility and social cohesiveness."
Bogota is hoping the United States will continue support for Plan Colombia -- a financial aid package of about 500 million dollars a year towards Colombia's anti-drug and anti-guerilla battles.
Obama did not mention the plan specifically, but drew parallels between the anti-drugs struggle of US ally Mexico and Colombia's own efforts.
"The drug trafficking that has been such a cancer in the life of Colombia affects the region as a whole," Obama said.
"It's important that the United States steps up and cooperates effectively in battling the adverse effects of drug trafficking -- and that includes, by the way, the United States reducing demand for drugs. We have responsibilities."
Uribe's visit followed shortly after the publication of a report by the International Trade Union Confederation placing Colombia at the top of a list of countries that are dangerous for unions.
The report cites 49 murders of trade unionists in 2008.
The visit also followed revelations in October of numerous extrajudicial executions attributed to the Colombian military and a major scandal involving illegal eavesdropping on opponents by members of the Administrative Security Department, Colombia's security service.
On Friday, Human Rights Watch called on Obama to use his meeting with Uribe "to demand that he respect human rights and remind him of the important of acting in accordance with democratic principles."
Uribe was the third Latin American leader to meet with Obama at the White House.
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva met with Obama in March, and Chilean President Michelle Bachelet visited on June 23.
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