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Colombian gov't, FARC request UN mission to oversee peace process

Xinhua, January 20, 2016 Adjust font size:

The Colombian government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) guerrillas agreed on Tuesday to request a UN observer mission to monitor the ongoing peace process and end the 50-year-old conflict in the South American country.

"We decided to ask the UN Security Council to create an unarmed political mission for a period of 12 months, renewable at the request of the government and the FARC," the two sides said in a statement issued here.

The statement said the mission will 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 mission will also settle disputes, make recommendations and hand in reports.

The UN mission will begin its work after a final peace agreement is reached, according to the statement.

"The step we have taken today is a significant one toward ending the conflict", said Humberto de la Calle, the government's chief negotiator.

Meanwhile, FARC negotiator Ivan Marquez expressed his satisfaction with the agreement. "The talks in search of reconciliation have entered the final stage," he said.

The Colombian government has held several rounds of peace talks with the FARC in Cuba 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. Endi