International
Colombian Attorney General’s Office withdraws arrest warrants against guerrillas with political status
March 24 |
Colombia’s Attorney General, Francisco Barbosa, announced on Friday that the institution suspended the arrest warrants for five members of the FARC dissidence known as the Central General Staff, designated as representatives with political status of this armed group, by indication of President Gustavo Petro.
“In exercise of my legal and constitutional powers, I have suspended all the arrest warrants that President Gustavo Petro recognized in Resolution 038, as representatives with political status of the armed group self-styled Central General Staff of the FARC, dissidents of the Havana Peace Agreement, and who will integrate the mechanism of veeduría, monitoring and verification,” said Barbosa.
The decision will benefit Luis Carlos Pinilla Cortez, Renzo Alirio Martínez, Robinson de Jesús González, Ramiro Pinzón Novoa and Walter Freddy Ruiz Montaño.
According to the prosecutor’s office, the decision will be in force until June 30, 2023, “and will be communicated to Interpol and other authorities so that it is complied with immediately”.
Barbosa emphasized that, in this way, he reiterates “the commitment of the Attorney General’s Office and the Attorney General of the Nation to achieve peace” and, he said, although he believes “in the idea of achieving reconciliation among Colombians”, he rejects “the idea of establishing peace processes and not submitting to justice with drug traffickers in Colombian territory”.
“We are friends of peace, but we are not friends of drug trafficking”, he added.
The prosecutor’s office had suspended arrest warrants against 19 leaders of the Central General Staff days ago, a decision that opened the door to the start of peace negotiations between the dissidents and the government of President Gustavo Petro, which is promoting negotiations with the armed groups to put an end to the armed conflict through its “total peace” initiative.
International
UK braces for potential CO₂ shortage amid Middle East tensions
The government of United Kingdom is preparing contingency measures amid fears of a potential shortage of carbon dioxide (CO₂), which could impact the agri-food industry if the Strait of Hormuz remains blocked due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, The Times reported on Thursday.
According to the newspaper, officials assessed this scenario during a recent crisis meeting aimed at evaluating the consequences of a prolonged conflict, triggered on February 28 by joint attacks from United States and Israel against Iran.
Under this scenario, CO₂ supplies—primarily a byproduct of fertilizer production using natural gas—could fall by up to 18%, affecting multiple sectors including agriculture and food production.
The gas is widely used in the slaughter of pigs and poultry, as well as in extending the shelf life of packaged foods. Breweries could also face disruptions due to reduced availability.
“I don’t want to comment on a leak, but now that the information is out there, I hope people feel reassured knowing we are working on it,” said Peter Kyle, Secretary of State for Business and Trade, in remarks to Sky News.
While a drop in CO₂ supply is not expected to cause major shortages in supermarkets, it could limit product variety, The Times noted, citing access to internal government documents.
To mitigate the impact, authorities are considering prioritizing CO₂ supply for critical sectors such as healthcare and civil nuclear energy, where it is used in cooling systems for blood reserves, organs, vaccines, and electricity generation. The government may also request domestic producers to increase output.
Central America
El Salvador and Paraguay approve 2026–2028 cooperation program
The governments of El Salvador and Paraguay approved the 2026–2028 Cooperation Program, which includes six joint development projects, according to Salvadoran Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Adriana Mira.
Mira stated that El Salvador will act as the “main provider of cooperation,” contributing five initiatives focused on road infrastructure, tourism, and local development. She also noted that one of the projects will be led by the Paraguayan side, although no further details were disclosed.
The agreement was reached during the Second Meeting of the Joint Commission on Technical and Scientific Cooperation between both countries.
According to Paraguay’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the First Meeting of the Political Consultation and Bilateral Coordination Mechanism was also held, with the participation of Vice Minister Víctor Verdún.
In an official statement, the Paraguayan government reported that both delegations agreed to identify mechanisms to promote competitiveness, economic growth, and market access. They also committed to signing agreements related to air transport cooperation.
International
Macron meets Machado, stresses need for democratic transition in Venezuela
Emmanuel Macron met on Monday at the Élysée Palace with Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado, where they discussed the importance of advancing a democratic transition in Venezuela.
In a message shared on social media, Macron highlighted Machado’s commitment to freedom and stressed the need to achieve a transition that is peaceful and respects the will of the Venezuelan people.
“I received María Corina Machado, Nobel Peace Prize laureate. Together, we discussed her commitment to freedom and the importance of achieving a democratic, peaceful transition in Venezuela that respects the will of its people,” he wrote.
For her part, Machado expressed her “deep gratitude” to Macron and to France for their support of democracy and freedom in Venezuela.
“We have gone through a long and painful journey, and we are now very close to freedom. Venezuela will become a nation of free and equal men and women—prosperous, safe, and united,” she said.
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