Brasilia, June 1 (RHC)-- The presidents of Brazil and Colombia, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, and Gustavo Petro, respectively, met on Wednesday morning at the Alvorada Palace, Brasilia, in a meeting whose central theme was the protection of the Amazon.

According to information from the Brazilian Presidency, during the meeting, the two presidents also spoke about the recently concluded Meeting of South American Presidents, held in Brasilia, about the political situation in the region and about the environment and the Amazon rainforest.

The communiqué itself states that President Petro confirmed that he will attend the meeting of Amazonian countries in Belém, in August. 

In response, President Lula agreed to participate, on July 8, in Letícia, Colombia, a city located on the border between the two countries, in the forum of scientific debates on the Amazon, a preparatory event for the Belém meeting, in which Petro will also be present.

In the same vein, both Petro and Lula da Silva pointed out "the need to advance in joint efforts against environmental crimes and organized crime in the region, combating loggers, illegal miners, land usurpers and drug traffickers".

According to the communiqué: "They agreed that taking care of the rainforest is taking care of the Colombians and Brazilians living in the region and discussed the necessary measures to strengthen the Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organization, based in Brasilia."

The Colombian president would have requested Brazil's support for the candidacy of Martin Von Hildebrand to the general secretariat of the Amazon Basin Treaty Organization (OTCA).