[LETTERHEAD OF MINISTRY OF FINANCE AND PUBLIC CREDIT]
April 14, 2009
VIA EDGAR
Securities and Exchange Commission
Division of Corporation Finance
100 F Street, N.E.
Washington, D.C. 20549
Attention: Michael Coco, Esq.
Special Counsel
Office of International Corporate Finance
| Re: | Registration Statement under Schedule B of the |
| Securities Act of 1933 of the Republic of Colombia |
Ladies and Gentlemen:
The Republic of Colombia (the “Republic”) hereby requests that the Republic’s Registration Statement (File No. 333-156913) under Schedule B of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on January 23, 2009, be declared effective at 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday, April 14, 2009 or as soon thereafter as practicable.
| Very truly yours, | ||
| THE REPUBLIC OF COLOMBIA | ||
| By: | /s/ Óscar Iván Zuluaga Escobar | |
| Óscar Iván Zuluaga Escobar | ||
| Minister of Finance and Public Credit | ||