AMERICA/COLOMBIA - Building a frontier of communion and peace as a place of encounter rather than division: Bishops of Colombia and Ecuador

Villagarzón (Fides Service) - “We confirm our commitment to finding solutions to complex situations in border areas between Colombia and Ecuador” say the Bishops of frontier zone dioceses of Colombia and Ecuador in a final statement issued at the end of the 15th Meeting on Frontier Pastoral held 17 to 19 April in the small town of Villagarzón, Putumayo, Colombia. Present at the meeting the Bishops of Tumaco, Ipiales, Mocoa-Sibundoy and Sucumbíos, diocesan delegates of social and frontier pastoral, representatives of the national defence ministry, Putumayo state government, the Minga Association and other social organisations, representatives of municipal institutions and UNHCR, CODHES, Azione Andina.
The Bishops underline that the difficult situation in border areas should not be lived as a calamity but as an “opportunity to evangelise and promote development in a new society which pursues peace”. They recall progress made: “intensification of joint national pastoral care; closer contact among Bishops, laity and friendly nations, concern to alleviate problems and difficulties of people who suffer the consequences of moving”. The Bishops stress the need to work for “a frontier of communion and peace, a place of encounter rather than division”. In the statement they also say both countries would benefit from ‘cultural exchange between Colombia and Ecuador’ which would not be an obstacle to national sovereignty .
Lastly the Bishops say the Treaty on Free Trade is a serious problem to be faced with dialogue which unites rather than be a cause of further division. The 5th General Conference of CELAM 13 to 31 May 2007 at Aparecida (Brazil) will be “an occasion to come once again together in support of our countries”. (RG) (Agenzia Fides 25/4/2006; righe 23, parole 318)