Foreign Minister defends Arias ambassadorship

[Judi Lynn]

Foreign Minister defends Arias ambassadorship
Tuesday, 21 September 2010 09:13 Teresa Welsh

Colombia's Foreign Minister on Tuesday defended the decision to appoint a former minister investigated for bribery as ambassador to Italy.

In an interview with Caracol Radio, Minister Maria Angela Holguin said the foreign service appointment of Andres Felipe Arias is a "governmental decision" and there are no reasons for the former Agriculture Minister not to take the position.

Arias has been under criminal investigation since January for the allegedly fraudulently granting of government subsidies to gain political support.

Despite the investigation, President Juan Manuel Santos two weeks ago appointed Arias to the vacant position as Colombian ambassador to Italy, who resigned because of a pending criminal trial over the bribery of congressmen.

~snip~
Arias is accused of having paid large government subsidies, intended for poor farmers, to wealthy families, beauty queens, and paramilitaries. His successor in the position, Andres Fernandez, has admitted that the subsidy recipients were financial supporters of a referendum to allow former President Alvaro Uribe to run for re-election in 2010.

http://colombiareports.com/colombia-news/news/11961-foreign-minister-defends-arias-ambassadorship.html