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Talking for the primary time with a U.S. information community following his first-ever dialog with President Trump, Colombia’s left-wing President Gustavo Petro stated Thursday that he was glad to have been invited for a gathering on the White Home, and he hoped an ongoing dialogue with Mr. Trump would “cease a world struggle.”
Within the wake of the U.S. assault on Venezuela and seize of the nation’s former president, Petro stated any assault on his nation by the U.S. would begin a civil struggle in Colombia, and “can be dumb coverage.”
Under is a transcript of a few of the highlights of CBS Information correspondent Lilia Luciano’s interview with Petro.
Lilia Luciano: What did you inform President Trump? What did he inform you? Had been there any guarantees made?
President Gustavo Petro: He allowed me to clarify two factors I needed to make .…
Luciano: What have been these factors? What did you inform him?
Petro: Our successes in combating drug trafficking in Colombia go in opposition to the narrative that they’ve created in america. I name this political jealousy [over our successes against] Colombian drug trafficking, and so they do not…
Luciano: You advised them concerning the success…
Petro: And america would not know something about that.
Luciano: You advised them concerning the success of your trafficking seizures of cocaine and medicines in Colombia. What else did you inform him?
Petro: Effectively, other than these outcomes, which have been excellent — historic, I’d say by way of figures — we talked about Venezuela, at my initiative. He didn’t point out Venezuela. He didn’t point out any specifics, however reasonably we talked a couple of process to revive communication.
Luciano: He didn’t discuss Venezuela, however there was a dialogue about Venezuela. He did not offer you any specifics, however you probably did discuss Venezuela. What did you discuss? He didn’t give any specifics about Venezuela. What does that imply, and what was stated about Venezuela?
Petro: That signifies that maybe these factors can be handled solely in individual, which appears advantageous to me.
Luciano: He is ready to have that dialog?
Petro: If there was no communication all through his total time period, rebuilding it’s undoubtedly not simple and is the very first thing that must be completed. The figures could also be disputed, however they need to be official, and any falsehoods must be uncovered.
Luciano: Inform me extra about what President Trump advised you.
Petro: He let me discuss for 40 of the 55 minutes … He advised me: ‘They’ve advised as many lies about you as they’ve about me.’
Luciano: Had been you ever afraid of President Trump coming after you?
Petro: Look, what I am most afraid of, and I am not gonna say that I am not afraid to be threatened once I see the photographs of helicopters flying in and missiles [in Venezuela], after we do not even have an air protection system … However that if one thing occurs right here in opposition to the President of Colombia … That may indisputably trigger a civil struggle, and likewise a hostility towards america that america doesn’t deserve. It will be dumb coverage.”
Luciano: What’s your objective? Why are you going to the White Home? Is that this about stopping a struggle in Latin America?
Petro: To cease a world struggle.
Petro has invited Venezuela’s appearing President Delcy Rodriguez, a member of her ousted predecessor’s interior circle, whom the Colombian chief calls a pal, to go to him at his personal presidential palace, however says he isn’t planning to mediate between Rodriguez and Mr. Trump.
Luciano: Do you belief President Trump’s intentions in Venezuela?
Petro: I feel he believes in shared governance, however not separate from the concept of retaining management of the oil.
Whereas Petro says he doesn’t condone the Trump administration’s plans to regulate Venezuelan oil output, he stated he does imagine he and the U.S. chief share a imaginative and prescient on who ought to govern Venezuela going ahead.
Luciano: You are suggesting a shared authorities between the Delcy regime, alongside the opposition?
Petro: Sure.
Luciano: What do you consider [Venezuelan opposition leader] María Corina Machado?
Petro: Look, she has stated – I’ve by no means talked to her.
Luciano: So, you would not belief her or assist her as a frontrunner?
Petro: I invited her as soon as, and she or he did not wish to come. I used to be clearly stunned that Trump thought the identical factor as me.
Mr. Trump stated after the U.S. captured former Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro that he did not imagine Machado had sufficient assist inside her nation to be a viable chief, and regardless of each he and Petro voicing mistrust in her, the Venezuelan individuals seem to disagree.
Among the many opposition, she was polling at 93% forward of an election final 12 months during which Maduro claimed a decisive victory, however which the U.S. and Machado say he stole. Whereas the Maduro regime blocked Machado from operating, the candidate she backed is believed by the U.S. and plenty of outdoors observers to have received 70% of the vote, regardless of Maduro declaring himself the winner.
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