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UN chief welcomes Colombia signing new peace agreement

Xinhua, November 25, 2016 Adjust font size:

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Thursday welcomed the signing of the new peace agreement between the government of Colombia and the FARC rebel group.

Earlier on Thursday, Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos and the leader of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), Rodrigo Londono, signed the revised peace agreement in the country's capital Bogota.

In a statement, Ban commended the parties for their determination to bring this long-standing conflict to an end, while congratulating all who participated constructively in the dialogue that led to the new agreement.

Ban said "it is essential to move now to implementation," and he hopes that "Colombians will come together at this time to move the peace process forward."

"He reiterates the commitment of the United Nations to provide all necessary support, both through the United Nations Mission in Colombia and through the relevant UN agencies, funds and programs," said the statement.

Almost two months after the rejection of a first version of the peace agreement by the Colombians during a referendum, the new text clarifies and strengthens legal mechanisms that will be applied to sanction the crimes of guerrilla warfare.

Unlike the previous agreement, this new deal will not be subject to a public vote but will have to be approved by congress over the course of the next week.

Within 90 days after the approval, the FARC will begin to lay down arms. And within five months, all the weapons of the FARC will be in the hands of the UN. Endit