Signing Ceremony of an Agreement of Intent Held Between the Academy and Colombia

The Secretary-General of The Hague Academy of International Law, Professor Jean-Marc Thouvenin, and the Treasurer, Ms Andrea Kramer, had the honour of welcoming H.E. Mr Mauricio Jaramillo Jassir, Colombia’s Vice-Minister for Multilateral Affairs, to the famous Historical Reading Room of the Peace Palace Library, to formally mark their agreement in principle to the organisation of a session of international law courses in Cartagena de Indias, Colombia, in March 2026.

On behalf of the Curatorium and its President, Professor Diego P. Fernández Arroyo, the Secretary-General welcomed this new programme of courses in international law, which will be given mainly in Spanish, and congratulated Colombia on its willingness to support it. He also presented his hosts with the provisional programme of courses suggested by the President of the Curatorium, and indicated his complete willingness to work on the practical implementation of this programme so as to be in a position, in July, to officially announce its holding.

His Excellency Mauricio Jaramillo Jassir emphasised his country’s commitment to international law, and the advantages of holding the programme envisaged by the Academy in Cartagena. He indicated that he would be closely monitoring this project, and stressed its relevance. H.E. Carolina Olarte Bácares, for her part, recalled the context in which the project was conceived, the premises already selected to host the courses, the importance of the Spanish language in the world and, consequently, the interest in organising an Academy course in Cartagena in a predominantly Spanish language.