consistently in the state department reports there are serious outstanding issues related to the columbia ftaabour laws fall below the norms and workers struggle to exercise their rights to associate and collectively bargain. persistent problems include abuse of cooperative and other forms of contracting. employees direct negotiation with workers between unions are present, and prohibitions on the right. moreover, enforcement of labor laws is eak. the violence in colombia remains unacceptably high. it's not the highest in the world. limited progress is being made in the investigation and prosecution of those responsible additionally, reports indicate threats against union workers and others have increased and there has been little concrete action today to pursue these cases. as i served during my five day fact-finding trip in colombia last month, the new administration has now articulated a different approach from its predecessor that provides an opportunity for serious discussions between the two governments and these concerns. but we should be very clear that the burden is on the colombian