-5- [...] based on the decisions reached by the domestic judicial and disciplinary authorities and due to the facts that took place in the municipality of Mapiripán between July 15 and 20, 1997 [...] it publicly and explicitly states the following: 1. With regard to the Preliminary objections filed by the State: • It withdraws the first Preliminary Objection, regarding inappropriate application of Articles 50 and 51 of the American Convention, and • It ratifies and maintains the second Preliminary Objection regarding the nonexhaustion of domestic remedies, filed by the Colombian State. 2. It acknowledges its international responsibility for the abridgment of Articles 4(1), 5(1) and [5](2), and 7 (1) and [7](2) of the American Convention on Human Rights, in connection with the facts that took place in Mapiripán between July 15 and 20, 1997. 3. It reaffirms as its State policy that of promoting and protecting human rights and it expresses its deep respect and consideration for the victims of the facts that took place in Mapiripán between July 15 and 20, 1997, and remembering them expresses its regret and apologizes to their next of kin and to Colombian society. 4. It asks […] the Court to consider the acknowledgment made and to ascribe full legal effect to it, and therefore to limit the hearings on the merits and subsequent proceedings to the study of reparations and costs, as well as to the pleadings on the merits regarding the State’s compliance with its treaty obligations regarding Articles 8(1) and 25. 18. On March 7, 2005 the State submitted a brief in which it said: [...] based on the rulings issued by domestic judicial and disciplinary authorities and on the facts stated in section B of Chapter VI “Los Hechos de Julio de 1997” of the application filed by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights [...] it publicly and explicitly states the following: 1. With regard to the Preliminary objections filed by the State: • It withdraws the first Preliminary Objection, regarding inappropriate application of Articles 50 and 51 of the American Convention, and • It maintains the second Preliminary Objection regarding non-exhaustion of domestic remedies, filed by the Colombian State. 2. It acknowledges its international responsibility for the abridgment of Articles 4(1), 5(1) and [5](2), and 7 (1) and [7](2) of the American Convention on Human Rights, in connection with the facts that took place in Mapiripán in July 1997. 3. It reaffirms as its State policy that of promoting and protecting human rights and it expresses its deep respect and consideration for the victims of the facts that took place in Mapiripán in July 1997, and remembering them expresses its regret and apologizes to their next of kin and to Colombian society. 4. It asks the […] Court to consider the acknowledgment made and to ascribe full legal effect to it, and therefore to limit the hearings on the merits and subsequent proceedings to the study of reparations and costs, as well as to the pleadings on the merits regarding the State’s compliance with its treaty obligations regarding Articles 8(1) and 25. 5. It specifies that this declaration by the State does not involve assessment or consideration of individual criminal liabilities.