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EU hails adoption of revised peace deal by Colombia's Congress

Xinhua, December 2, 2016 Adjust font size:

The European Union (EU)'s foreign policy chief on Thursday hailed the adoption by the Colombia's Congress of a revised peace agreement between the government and the country's largest rebel group.

"The broad debate that led to the revision of the agreement has helped to address key demands of various sections of Colombian society, to improve the text in several important ways and to find the necessary compromises," Federica Mogherini said in a statement.

"Now, the important challenges that the implementation of the agreement entails will have to be met," she said, adding, "it is essential that the constructive and open spirit that has led to the agreement continues so that all political forces and all sections of Colombian society engage actively in this historical moment."

The Congress on Wednesday night unanimously voted in favor of the revised peace agreement, which was signed on Nov. 24 by Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos and the leader of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), Rodrigo Londono.

The signing came less than two months after a plebiscite narrowly rejected the original agreement, which took four years to negotiate.

Unlike the previous agreement, this new deal is subject to congressional approval rather than a public vote.

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.

The peace agreement aims to end a conflict that has lasted for more than half a century and officially led to 260,000 deaths, and millions of people displaced.

Santos won the 2016 Nobel Peace Prize on Oct. 7 for his "resolute efforts" to end the chronic civil war. Endit