Oxford professor, Malcolm Deas, said Colombia should maintain the Democratic Security Policy

President Álvaro Uribe Velez and the Colombian government received a positive note in the assessment made by professor Malcolm Deas at the University of Oxford, on the reality of the country during a presentation in London organized by the Canning House.

"No country is perfect, but a large percentage of the situation in Colombia is very positive. To move forward, Colombia should maintain a coherent and well articulated security policy" Deas said during his speech was titled: 'Colombia, Its Current State."

Before an audience of experts on Latin America, academics, diplomats and Colombian residents in the United Kingdom, Malcolm praised the government of Uribe. "The success of town hall meetings has generated an enormous popular impact.

These events have given President Uribe credibility and remembrance within the Colombian people, reflected in his popularity rates” said the professor, who since 1963, when he first traveled to Colombia, fell in love with the country, its history and the ongoing situation in which it finds itself.

"Ambition, power, determination and an extraordinary energy, required by Colombian politics, are qualities of the current Colombian president” highlighted Deas. "He doesn’t repeat himself, his bold, decisive and consistent. He knows the country very well,".

When referring to human rights issues and the criticism the government has received by Human Rights Watch and its director for the Americas, Jose Miguel Vivanco, Deas referred to a recent article published by the The Washington Post that mentions there are some good and responsible NGOs, which have specific and serious ideals, but others who take advantage of the situation in the country for profit and personal interests.

"Mr. Vivanco first criticized the Justice and Peace Law, because according to him it was a way for demobilized paramilitaries to evade justice. Then, Mr. Vivanco criticized the extradition of 14 paramilitary under this law, because,he says, extraditions are the way for paramilitaries to avoid answering for crimes committed in Colombia“ he added.

Deas, who received the Colombian citizenship October 14, 2008 in Bogota for his deep, extensive and committed work to Colombia, commented on his likings: "If Colombia is doing well, I am happy, and when Colombia is going through tough times, I’m sad. I hope Colombia will continue doing well," he said.