Statement by Permanent Representative Vassily Nebenzia at UNSC Briefing on Colombia
Madam President,
We thank the Special Representative of the Secretary-General Carlos Ruiz Massieu for his briefing on the situation in Colombia and the work of the United Nations Verification Mission in Colombia (UNVMC). We welcome the participation in today’s meeting of the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Colombia Mr. Luis Murillo, the Minister of the Interior Mr. Juan Cristo, and the High Commissioner for Peace Mr. Otty Patiño.
Madam President,
The Government of Colombia has made it clear that the key to long-term reconciliation in the country is the comprehensive implementation of the Final Peace Agreement (FPA). We can only welcome such commitment on the part of the authorities, which has developed into a Rapid Response plan focused on distributing land to victims of the conflict, territorial development and security guarantees.
On these and other fronts, progress has so far left much to be desired, and the Colombian society has long been waiting for a transition from the planning phase to concrete action. It is unacceptable that killings and intimidation of ex-combatants continue, as well as their forced displacement, which occured in the former Territorial Area for Training and Reintegration (TATR) in Miravalle. We believe that involving former FARC members more closely in the development and implementation of government measures would be a step toward ensuring their security and reintegration. In this context, we welcome the opportunity for representatives of the High Contracting Party to attend Security Council meetings and share their views, as was the case for the very first time at the Council meeting diring the Russian Presidency in July.
It is necessary to address the remaining disagreements around the transitional justice system envisioned by the FPA. We call on the parties to reject confrontation in favor of searching for consensus-based solutions while preserving the independence of the Special Jurisdiction for Peace.
We hope that Bogotá's shifted focus to the FPA implementation is not a decision of necessity driven by the lack of results in other peacebuilding tracks. Nevertheless, it would be fair to say that, alas, no long-term progress has yet been achieved in negotiations with other armed groups.
We pin certain hopes on the positive developments in the process with the Segunda Marquetalia armed group. We call on the National Liberation Army (NLA) and the Government to return to the negotiating table, because a “bad peace” is nonetheless better than “war”. Over the month and a half of renewed fighting against the NLA, there have been killed much more people than over the year and a half of the ceasefire regime. Residents of conflict-afflicted areas are tired of living in conditions of permanent insecurity. And it is vulnerable groups, including ex-combatants, community leaders, and indigenous and Afro-Colombian populations who are particularly affected.
In this context, we note the efforts by the UN Verification Mission to fulfill its mandate even in the absence of formal agreements between the parties to the conflict. “Quiet” diplomacy and the good offices of the UNVMC leadership and its representatives on the ground play an important role in establishing communications and preventing outbreaks of violence.
Bearing this in mind, Russia is ready to support the extension of the mandate of the special political mission – which is due to expire later this month – in its current form, and we will continue to facilitate the peace process in Colombia and the efforts of UNVMC under the leadership of Carlos Ruiz Massieu.
I thank you for your attention.
