UN chief hails decision on Colombia peace process

The UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Monday hailed the unanimous adoption of a Security Council resolution to form a mission to monitor ceasefire and disarmament in Colombia.

"He is pleased by the strong commitment they have shown to the peaceful resolution of the armed conflict in Colombia," Ban's spokesperson said in a statement.

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 conflict between the government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) guerrillas.

The UN chief will initiate preparations, "so that a United Nations political mission can be fully operational when the final peace agreement is signed," said the statement.

The Colombian government has held several rounds of peace talks with the FARC since November 2012. So far, the two sides have reached consensus on land and rural development, political participation for former rebels, combating drugs and narcotics trafficking, and reparations for victims of the conflict.

The remaining topic is the final accord on the end of the conflict, which both sides are committed to reaching by March 23.

Ban has requested UN Under Secretary-General Jeffrey Feltman to engage with members of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) at an upcoming summit on their contribution to the political mission, added the statement.
 Xinhua -china.org.cn
26/1/16
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