Bolivia Urges Colombia Not to Leave Unasur

The Bolivian government has urged Colombia to reflect on the decision to leave the Union of South American Nations (Unasur), which was announced by the newly-sworn-in President Duque on Friday

RELATED:
Bolivia: 'UNASUR is a Reality; It Will Not Disappear'

in a statement issued Monday, the Bolivian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has said that "beyond the circumstances that led (Colombia) to this decision, we are convinced that South American integration will transcend the current political situation," and asked the Colombian government led by Duque, to reconsider their position.

"The Plurinational State of Bolivia reiterates the invitation to the countries of South America and especially to the Government of Colombia to initiate a profound process of reflection focused on what unites us," stated the Bolivian Foreign Ministry.

Colombia's newest government, which is led by Ivan Duque who assumed office on Aug. 7, announced Friday that it will withdraw from Unasur. The decision was based on political differences with Venezuela, a sentiment already shared by then-candidate Duque, during his presidential campaign.

The Bolivian statement went on to describe the body as "the natural space of integration that constitutes the hallmark of the peoples of the South because we are united by our history and by Mother Earth because we are Unasur."

Last Friday, former president of Colombia Ernesto Samper, who had served as Secretary-general of Unasur, expressed his concerns about the decision taken by Ivan Duque. "I hope that the government will calmly reconsider this decision and, if it takes it, that it will evaluate the costs that this South American Brexit would imply," said Samper in his statement.