BOGOTA, Jan. 24 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice warned Thursday that the challenges Colombia is facing will only get harder if a trade deal with Washington doesn't pass. Medellin, Colombia

    Rice arrived in Medellin, northwestern Colombia, Thursday with a delegation of Democratic lawmakers for two days of talks aimed at reviving the contentious free trade agreement (FTA) with the South American country.

    She told reporters that "whatever the challenges facing Colombia they are not going to be easier if this FTA does not pass. In fact they will be harder."

    The visit is an opportunity for Colombia's various sectors to explain the future FTA's benefits, said Medellin's government secretary Jesus Rodriguez.

    The agreement was signed in November of 2006 by the two governments, but with human rights conditions set by U.S. Congress, including a decrease in the number of businessmen killed in Colombia.

    Rice's visit marks the fourth high-level U.S. official visit to Colombia in less than six months.