Colombia hails UN decision to monitor peace process

  26 January 2016    Read: 948
Colombia hails UN decision to monitor peace process
The Colombian government on Monday hailed the UN Security Council`s decision to form a mission to monitor ceasefire and disarmament in the country.
"The Security Council`s decision means we are no longer going alone, but hand in hand with the UN, the entire world, toward the end of this war," Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos said in televised remarks.

The 15-member council on Monday adopted a resolution to establish a political mission to monitor the ongoing peace process in Colombia, which aims to end the 50-year-long armed conflict between the government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC).

"This concrete mandate of the Security Council will benefit all Colombians and will contribute to building confidence in a country determined to overcome the aftermath of a decades-long conflict that caused too much suffering for generations," Colombian Foreign Minister Maria Angela Holguin said after the vote.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon also hailed the adoption of the resolution, saying that he was "pleased by the strong commitment they have shown to the peaceful resolution of the armed conflict in Colombia."

Ban will initiate preparations "so that a United Nations political mission can be fully operational when the final peace agreement is signed," Ban`s spokesperson said in a statement.

The Colombian government and the FARC guerrillas are in the last phase of negotiations for a peace agreement which is expected to be signed by March 23 to end their conflict that killed 220,000 people and displaced millions.

More about:


News Line