REMARKS BY

ALVARO URIBE VELEZ

No lost causesReflections on Colombia: Leadership, transformation and

International  Affairs

Introduction

I have been asked to talk about leadership and transformation based on our government experience.

When I was asked to do that, I felt that this should be the opportunity to express that what Colombia has experienced is not only my success as President, nor only the success of my administration. It was and it should be always remembered as the success of a whole nation that recovered CONFIDENCE and decided to mobilize in order to build a better future.

As President I had the privilege of counting with the support of my fellow citizens to put in place the concept of a Comunitary State built in the fertile ground of DEMOCRATIC SECURITY, INVESTOR CONFIDENCE AND SOCIAL COHESION. This is the story I want to share with you today

LOVE AND COURAGE

Colombia long history of violence

Colombia’s history has been signed by long periods of violence: In almost 200 years of independent live, our nation has only experienced 47 years of relative peace.

Violence has taken many forms: Regional and political organization struggles in the XIX Century. Partisan violence from 1900-1958 Guerrilla confrontation since 1960 Narco-Terrorism since 1980’s

Violence has affected the lives of many Colombians: My father was killed in a kidnapping attempt. I have suffered in my

own skin the cruelty of terrorism. For that reason I have fought to liberate my nation from the reign of fear.

Violence destroyed hope

Between 1982 and 2002 violence kept on deteriorating and became the root of structural problems: lack of investment, unemployment, poverty, brain drain, lack of hope.

In 2002 Colombia's was considered by many multilateral organizations, as a nation in the path of becoming a failed state.

The numbers made evident that we were experiencing a Confidence Deficit: 28.837 homicides 2.882 kidnappings 69 homicides per 100.000 habitants 1645 terrorist attacks 350 mayors out of their municipalities 158 municipalities without police Unemployment was close to 16% Poverty close to 57% Per Capita income US$2300 FDI: US$2.1 billion Investment as % of GDP: 16% Guerrillas, Paramilitaries and drug dealers exercised control in many regions

Many people fought to reach peace in good faith

Gilberto Echeverri and Guillermo Gaviria thought in good faith that violence ought to be fought through peaceful dialogue…

They decided to organize a walk for peace. During the endeavor they were kidnapped by FARC…

My desire when I took office was to release all the kidnapped citizens, beginning with Gilberto and Guillermo.

The failure of their rescue operation Assume responsibility Moment of truth The need to continue our fight against terror.

Personal experiences with violence

Captain Franco visits our home…EPL kidnapping attemptMany attempts on my life

Our fight was to restore true peace in Colombia under the principles of justice and order.

My professional lessons

EPMSecretary General of the Labour MinistryColombian National Aviation BureauMayor of MedellinCity CouncilSenatorGovernor

1. Antioquia First2. Community Councils3. Management by Results4. Communitary State

Perseverance and confidence

Our government agenda

Colombia needed a change. In 2000 I decided to run for President building an agenda by listening

to the people and engaging in permanent dialogue: Democratic Workshops People coalition Independent candidacy Primero Colombia

We built our change agenda with the People: Confidence was our cornerstone A new concept of State…”The Communitary State”:

• No division between left and right• No Neoliberalism nor Socialism• Pure Democratic Center• A participative State• An efficient state not a bureaucratic State

Strong hand and big heart: Mano firme corazón grande Democratic Manifesto: 100 Points Three Pillars:

• Democratic Security• Investment with fraternity• Social Cohesion as the final objective

The 3 pillars in Government

Democratic Security

Security for All

Fight all forms of crime

Security without Martial Law

Security with liberties and Human Rights

Victims recognition

Investment with Social

Responsibility

Investor Security (Human, Legal and Political)

Sound Macroeconomics

Incentives

Access to markets

Competitiveness Factors (Infrastructure, Connectivity,

Banking,)

Social Cohesion

Education Revolution

Health with coverage and quality

Access to credit (Banca de oportunidades)

Vocational Training

Conditional Cash Transfers

The Three Pillars in Government: Change is possible

Indicator 2002 2010

Homicides 28.838 14.000

Kidnappings 2.882 228

Homicides per 100K Habitants

69 35

Terrorist attacks

1.645 250

Municipalities without mayors

presence

350 0

Municipalities without

police

158 0

Security EconomyIndicator 2002 2010

Average Economic Growth

2.1% 4.3%

GDP per Capita

2377 5300

Invest % GDP 16.5% 27%

Exports US$11.00

0

US$ 39.000

FDI US$2.100

US$ 7.000

Inflation 6.9% 2.5%

SocialIndicator 2002 2010

Unemployment 16.2% 11.6%

Health Coverage 25.1 million

43.1 millio

n

Pension affiliates 4.5 million

7.1 millio

n

Poverty 53% 37%

Education coverage (Primary,

Hs, University)

97%57%24%

100%79.4%35.5%

Mobile phone users

4.6 million lines

41 million lines

The combination of our Policies produced significant results: Lowest violence levels in two decades, highest levels of social coverage in

Colombian History and highest levels of Exports and FDI in more than 5 decades

Change drivers

Change Drivers1. 306 Communitarian Councils

• Changed the way in which the government connects with the people. For the first time Government talks to the people not the armed groups

• People initially made their claims with anger and after 8 years with hope

2. Weekly Security Councils• Helped us confront the military forces statistics with the community • Great example of trust building

3. 52 Economic dialogues• Helped discuss economic policy with all the stakeholders

4. Result Driven Administration• We created the SIGOB a system to monitor how Government fulfils its

objectives5. Leading by example

• The President was on top of the agenda and involved 24/76. Direct Democracy (Sate of opinion)

• The Government always open for people scrutiny• T.V. Questions for the FTA

7. Determination to find solutions• Less promises but more solutions

8. Communication with the truth• The case of Governor Gaviria and Minister Echeverry

Security as the Heart of Change

Recovering Security1. Macro Vision and Detailed Follow up:

• Daily commitment to monitor security in every region• How citizens had the President Mobile Phone Number

2. Early Victories :• Road caravans• Massive kidnappings are over

3. Strategic Force Integration• All Forces working together• Share success

4. National Informant Network• Citizens became active in denouncing criminals• Reward Mondays

5. Commander in Chief assumes responsibility• The Granda Story• Operation Fenix: Fire the Air Force Commander• Operation Jaque: The pressure for a humanitarian exchange and the

final outcome6. Smart Weapons:

• The importance of strategic warfare7. Extradition:

• The decision to extradite the Paramilitary Kingpins

U.S. Bipartisan support for Colombia: Clinton, Bush, Obama

U.S. Support

to Colombi

aLessons

Political support against

terrorism

Military Support

Development Aid Support

Judicial Support

Diplomatic Support

Trade Support

Responsibility and loyalty

Facing crisis: perseverance to reach change

Moments of truth:1. Nogal Bomb: Bogota cries but never surrenders2. Killing of 11 regional senators: Facing their

families when rejecting humanitarian exchanges3. The rescue of Fernando Araujo4. Meeting Chavez after the Bombardment in

Ecuador: a debate in live T.V.5. The rescue of National University President6. The story of Emmanuel7. The military agreement with the U.S.

Changing Mindsets

Old concept

Internal conflict

Political Fighters

Political negotiations

Humanitarian exchange

New mindsetTerrorist threat

Terrorists

Rule of law application under the principles of

justice, peace and reparation

Kidnapping shall not be legitimized (Military

Rescue)

Remember meeting with Chirac in France

Context and leadership matter for Change

Leadership: Congruence Consistency Competence Caring Energy Honesty Love

Country Conditions MatterColombia

Democratic Tradition

Professional Armed Forces

Vibrant Private Sector

Active and courageous middle class

Entrepreneurial Spirit

Rule of Law

Leadership and country conditions are essential for political will

Country Conditions MatterColombia

Democratic Tradition

Professional Armed Forces

Vibrant Private Sector

Active and courageous middle class

Rule of law

Colombia had also important conditions to embrace change

Historical changes took place

Leadership, governance based on citizen support and political Will, helped built significant historical changes in strategic sectors: Reform the oil and gas sector:

1. Colombia is close to produce 1 million barrels per day from 250.000 in 2002 2. Ecopetrol Reform 3. Created the National Hydrocarbon Agency

Reform the Telecom Sector:1. Restructure the Colombian Telecommunications Agency

Reform the Colombian Social Security Agency More than 2.000 criminals were extradited Paramilitary structures were dismantled FARC suffered its biggest historical defeats Colombia experienced its largest historical FDI flows Biggest historical reduction in illicit crops More than 10 FTA’s signed and negotiated Largest historical health and education coverage Largest historical credit expansion Largest historical tourism flows to the countryTHIS CHANGE SHOWED THE WORLD THAT COLOMBIA WAS

NOT A LOST CAUSE….

Colombia current challenges

Challenges that will define our future

Security

Maintain Macro-Vision and Micro-

Management

Continue dismantling all

terrorist organizations

Continue dismantling drug cartels apparatus

Strengthen Citizen Security agendas

with local authorities

Economic

Maintain and increase FDI flows

(Security, incentives and stability rules)

Fiscal Policy to face new

countercyclical challenges

Increase tax collections

Social Cohesion

Fight labor informality and

create quality jobs

Insure education and health quality

Expand vocational training coverage

Create Entrepreneurial Family Transfers

program

Political

Judicial reform

Improve local institutional

capacity

New law implementation

(Victims and land)

Prevent the emergence of

populist movements

www.alvarouribevelez.com