UNITED NATIONS- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres hailed the new phase of the peace process between the Colombian government and the National Liberation Army (ELN), said his deputy spokesperson, Farhan Haq.
According to Haq, Guterres congratulated the government and the ELN as they embark on a new phase in their peace process, with the entry into force of their bilateral cease-fire agreement and the launch of the National Participation Committee.
“By adhering to the cease-fire in good faith and with a clear commitment to alleviating the suffering of civilians, the parties can significantly reduce violence while enhancing trust at the peace table,” he said in a statement.
The UN Verification Mission in Colombia is ready to do its part in the monitoring and verification of the cease-fire in accordance with the new mandate given to it by the Security Council on Wednesday, the statement said.
The Security Council on Wednesday unanimously adopted a resolution to expand the mandate of the UN Verification Mission in Colombia, which was set up in 2017 to oversee the peace deal between the government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC).
The FARC is larger leftist rebel group, which also monitors and verifies the implementation of the cease-fire between the government and the ELN.
The UN stands ready to support the critically important work of the National Participation Committee in facilitating the inclusive participation of Colombian society in the peace process, said the statement.
Colombia’s persistent efforts to expand peace through dialogue are advancing.
The secretary-general calls on the international community to continue to assist these initiatives both politically and through support for the implementation of agreements, it added. (Xinhua/NAN)
