Colombia: UN congratulates negotiating parties on peace agreement
7 November 2013 – The United Nations today congratulated Colombia following an announcement that negotiating parties in Havana, Cuba, reached an agreement on the issue of political participation in the South American country.
The Colombian Government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) released a joint statement announcing an agreement covering the latter's participation in national politics if talks in Havana reach a final deal to end their decades-old armed conflict, according to media reports. The agreement also calls for the FARC to disarm and form a political movement.
Some 600,000 people have died since the conflict between the country's authorities and the FARC began in the 1960s. Recently, the two sides have been engaged in negotiations on various issues in an effort to put an end to the long-running conflict.
UN Humanitarian Coordinator Fabrizio Hochschild, on behalf of the Organization's operations in Colombia, congratulated all negotiating parties on "the substantial progress" made to reach an agreement on the issue of political participation, the second item of the General Agreement for the End of the Conflict and Building a Stable and Lasting Peace.
Mr. Hochschild emphasized the importance of continued dialogue to achieve an end to the armed conflict and reiterated the UN's readiness to continue supporting the peace process.
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