Colombia’s president has dismissed Washington’s determination to cancel his visa, saying “revoking it for denouncing genocide shows the US no longer respects international law”.
It comes after the state division introduced on Friday it could cancel Gustavo Pedro’s visa over “incendiary actions” at a pro-Palestinian demonstration in New York.
Talking outdoors the United Nations on Friday, Mr Petro known as for a worldwide armed drive with the precedence of liberating Palestinians.
Mr Petro, who appeared on the rally alongside Roger Waters of Pink Floyd, stated in Spanish that the drive “has to be bigger than that of the United States”.
“I ask all the soldiers of the army of the United States not to point their guns at people. Disobey the orders of Trump. Obey the orders of humanity.”
The US state division stated in a put up on X that it’ll “revoke Petro’s visa due to his reckless and incendiary actions”.
However Mr Petro has now responded, saying: “I not have a visa to journey to the USA. I do not care.
“I don’t need a visa… because I’m not only a Colombian citizen but a European citizen, and I truly consider myself a free person in the world,” the Colombian chief stated on social media.
“Revoking it for denouncing genocide shows the US no longer respects international law,” he added on a put up on X.
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Professional-Palestinian protesters march to the UN
Israel has repeatedly denied allegations of genocide in Gaza, the place it has been engaged in a warfare with Hamas since October 2023.
Greater than 65,000 folks have died since Israel started its marketing campaign within the territory, with greater than 167,000 others wounded, in keeping with the Hamas-run Gaza well being ministry.
It doesn’t distinguish between civilians and combatants, however has stated girls and youngsters make up round half the fatalities.
Israel’s navy motion was a response to the Hamas-led assault on southern Israel on 7 October 2023, which left round 1,200 folks useless and 251 taken hostage, 48 of whom are nonetheless in Gaza.
Colombia’s ministry of international affairs stated in an announcement that utilizing visa revocation as a diplomatic weapon goes towards the spirit of the UN, which protects freedom of expression and ensures the independence of member states at UN occasions.
“The UN should find a completely neutral host country… that would allow the organisation itself to issue authorisationto enter the territory of that new host state,” the ministry stated.
