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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.”
Beneath is a transcript of among the highlights of CBS Information correspondent Lilia Luciano’s phone interview with Petro.
Lilia Luciano: What did you inform President Trump? What did he let you know? Have been there any guarantees made?
President Gustavo Petro: He allowed me to clarify two factors I wished 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, they usually do not…
Luciano: You instructed them in regards to the success…
Petro: And america does not know something about that.
Luciano: You instructed them in regards to the success of your trafficking seizures of cocaine and medicines in Colombia. What else did you inform him?
Petro: Properly, other than these outcomes, which have been excellent — historic, I might 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 slightly we talked a couple of process to revive communication.
Luciano: He didn’t speak about Venezuela, however there was a dialogue about Venezuela. He did not offer you any specifics, however you probably did speak about Venezuela. What did you speak about? 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 might be handled completely in individual, which appears high-quality to me.
Luciano: He is ready to have that dialog?
Petro: If there was no communication all through his complete 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 instructed you.
Petro: He let me speak for 40 of the 55 minutes … He instructed me: ‘They’ve instructed as many lies about you as they’ve about me.’
Luciano: Have 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 after 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 might unquestionably trigger a civil struggle, and likewise a hostility towards america that america doesn’t deserve. It will be dumb coverage.”
Luciano: What’s your aim? 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 performing President Delcy Rodriguez, a member of her ousted predecessor’s inside 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 believe he believes in shared governance, however not separate from the thought of retaining management of the oil.
Whereas Petro says he doesn’t condone the Trump administration’s plans to manage 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 he or she did not need to come. I used to be clearly shocked 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 folks seem to disagree.
Among the many opposition, she was polling at 93% forward of an election final yr through 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 lots of outdoors observers to have received 70% of the vote, regardless of Maduro declaring himself the winner.
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