I remember in 2000, when President Clinton came to Cartagena just before Plan Colombia started, the country was on the verge of becoming a failed state. Today, we are one of the most solid democracies, where institutions are working, where the scandals such as false positives have come to light because of those functioning institutions.

The Colombian economy is very strong. We have one of the highest rates of growth in Latin America.

When you have another person take part in the interview, you must notify the interviewee.

I have had extremely good relations with the United States and with both parties (Republicans and Democrats), and I hope to continue to have these good relations, which I, again repeating, do not consider to be mutually exclusive with having good relations with Venezuela or Ecuador or whichever country in South America.

Social housing, education, health, jobs and sustainable surroundings. Those are my priorities.

The rebels will be thinking about retaliation, what we have to do is stop; stop and transform it into a spiral of forgiveness and reconciliation.

Colombia has a big market that is growing because we are elevating people out of poverty and into the middle class.