David Kimche, director general of Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, arrived here recently to meet with representatives of President Julio Caesar Turbay Ayalo. Kimche said his trip was made in on effort to promote closer ties between Israel and Colombia.
“From the Colombian government we are hoping, above all, for friendship and comprehension of Israel’s problems,” Kimche said. “Colombia and Latin America in general have always maintained friendly relations with Israel and we hope that they will not bow to the economic pressures of the Arab countries.”
Colombia, like Israel, is dependent of imported oil — currently 60,000 barrels a day — to meet its energy and fuel needs. The bulk of Colombia’s supply is provided by Venezuela; Israel buys most of the oil it needs from Mexico. “Petroleum regulates dependency relations among countries,” Kimche said, adding that he wanted “to know how two countries (Israel and Colombia) in the process of development can help each other find a solution to their common problem.”
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