UN agrees to monitor potential Colombia ceasefire
The UN Security Council has approved a resolution ordering the formation of a monitoring body that would observe cessation of hostilities between the Colombian government and rebels.
The council approved the resolution on Monday, responding to a request for such a mission that it had received from both Bogota and the rebel Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC).
The monitoring mission is slated to comprise unarmed observers from Latin American and Caribbean nations. It is to be given a 12-month-long mandate, which can be extended upon request.
“Finally, our continent will have life without conflict,” said Colombian Foreign Minister Maria Angela Holguin, reacting to the approval of the resolution. “I would like to convey to the members of the council that their willingness to work with Colombia on this matter is essential for the success of the process.”
Bogota and FARC have been at war since 1964. The conflict has killed more than 220,000 people and uprooted six million others from their homes.
The two sides have been holding peace talks in the Cuban capital of Havana. The negotiations have made several key advances in recent months, and the two sides have set a deadline of March 23 to sign a final accord for a ceasefire.
Six main areas of disagreement have been discussed in the talks, namely justice for victims, land reform, political participation for former rebels, fighting the drug trafficking that has fueled the conflict, disarmament, and the mechanism by which the final accord will be ratified.
Deals have been reached on the first four issues. The latter two, however, are yet under discussion.
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