Statement by Mr.Dmitry Polyanskiy, Chargé d'affaires, at the Security Council meeting on the situation in Colombia
I would first like to welcome Vice-President Óscar Naranjo of Colombia to the Chamber today and to thank Special Representative Jean Arnault for his informative briefing.
The Security Council has met today to discuss the situation in Colombia a year after the adoption of resolution 2366 (2017) (see S/PV.7997), which heralded the completion of the process of the laying down of arms by former combatants and the country’s embarking on a new, peaceful phase.
The United Nations Verification Mission established by the resolution was mandated to monitor the Colombian Government’s fulfilment of its part of the commitments under the Final Agreement for Ending the Conflict and Building a Stable and Lasting Peace, which brought to an end hostilities that had lasted for decades.
We have seen a number of positive changes in the country this year. The former guerrilla movement has been transformed into a political party, parliamentary and presidential elections have been held with record turnouts and the Special Jurisdiction for Peace mechanism has been launched.
Despite the problems of which we are all aware, these are all unquestionable signs of an improvement in the situation. It will be important to ensure that this progress continues, with the support of society. We sincerely wish Colombia’s newly elected President Iván Duque and his Government every success on this path.
Mr. Arnault’s briefing confirmed Colombians’ resolve to work to advance the peace process, although there is still a great deal to be done. Long-standing disagreements are still hampering the consolidation of sustainable peace, which is why we wholeheartedly support the assistance provided to the Colombians by the United Nations presence under Mr. Arnault’s leadership.
We are grateful to the Verification Mission for monitoring the situation in the country. We are seriously concerned about the disturbing reports of the ongoing murders of former combatants and community leaders, seizures of liberated lands and problems with the political and socioeconomic reintegration of former combatants and the transitional justice system.
All of these require urgent solutions for which a responsible approach on the part of the country’s leadership is clearly essential, along with support from all sectors of society and an overall commitment to the peace that was so hard-won. The continued attention of the international community — which sees Colombia as a good example of post-conflict recovery — is also important, not to mention a particular focus on developments with regard to the National Liberation Army.
We will continue to emphasize that the Colombians’ demonstration of responsibility as a nation and their desire to seek politically sustainable solutions made possible the signing of the 2016 Peace Agreement, which enabled the Security Council and the SecretaryGeneral to support the peace process and must therefore be upheld exactly as it is by all parties.
For our part, we once again affirm our willingness to continue to support the people and the Government of Colombia in their work of building a lasting peace and postconflict development.
