Bogota – The Colombian Government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) guerrillas have finally agreed to request a UN observer mission to monitor the ongoing peace process and end the 50-year-old conflict in the South American country.
The two sides said in a statement issued on Wednesday in Bogota that both parties decided to ask the UN Security Council to create an unarmed political mission for a period of 12 months for the process.
They said the unarmed political mission should be renewable at the request of the government and the FARC.
The statement said the mission would comprise observers from Latin American countries and work along with the Colombian Government and the FARC as a trilateral mechanism to monitor disarmament of the guerrilla group and the ceasefire.
The statement read further that the mission would also settle disputes, make recommendations and hand in reports.
Humberto-de la-Calle, Government’s Chief Negotiator, said UN mission would begin its work after a final peace agreement was reached.
[pro_ad_display_adzone id=”70560″]
He said “the step we have taken today is a significant one toward ending the conflict”.
la-Calle said Colombian government had held several rounds of peace talks with the FARC in Cuba since November 2012.
He said so far, the two sides had reached consensus on land and rural development, political participation for former rebels, combating drugs and narcotics trafficking, and reparations for victims of the conflict.
la-Calle said the remaining topic was the final accord on the end of the conflict, which both sides are committed to reaching by March 23.
Meanwhile, FARC Negotiator, Ivan Marquez, expressed his satisfaction with the agreement.
The talks in search of reconciliation have entered the final stage. (Xinhua/NAN)