Colombia Minister Fernando Araujo resigns

Caracas, Venezuela, 16 July 2008. Today, Colombian Foreign Minister Fernando Araujo resigned. The vacant post would be taken by former Colombian Ambassador to Argentina, Jaime Bermudez. The resignation comes as no surprise as it was suggested few days ago in local Colombian media. However, the reasons behind the resignation are not very clear yet. Some have argued that the new Foreign Minister, Jaime Bermudez, takes the post to perform as campaigner consultant of President Alvaro Uribe for a possible referendum. Bermudez had served in such consultancy capacity in the past and remained very close to President Uribe. 

Ex Foreign Minister, Fernando Araujo, was a former  hostage kept under FARC captivity for six years. He was appointed in February 2007. Fernando Araujo replaced Maria Consuelo Araujo whose father and brother were involved in a local scandal relating Colombian MPs with paramilitaries.  

Among the pressing issues the new Colombian Foreign Minister will have to face are the following: restoration of bilateral relations with Ecuador, continue reproching Venezuelan government, keep the US alliance and Plan Colombia after a possible Democrat presidency, defend national interests at the International Court of Justice in the case with Nicaragua and diminish the international deteriorating image of President Uribe amid the current institutional crisis in Colombia or Yidisate.

Sources: Globovision, Unionradio, El Tiempo, Semana, Caracol, El Universal,  

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