United Nations.- The UN verification mission in Colombia urged the country’s new authorities this Wednesday to accelerate the implementation of the 2016 Peace Agreement, insisting that it is necessary to “combine security measures with a greater State presence and peacebuilding policies” in the face of “the persistence of violence in several regions.”
In a Security Council session, the special representative of the secretary-general for Colombia, Miroslav Jenča, congratulated the country on the “peaceful and orderly” conduct of the recent presidential elections won by Abelardo de la Espriella.
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Jenča pointed out that the next Government will be the third one elected since the signing of the peace agreement and will inherit “both the responsibility and the opportunity to complete its implementation”.
“Although much remains to be done to fully achieve the objectives, the agreement laid the essential foundations for a lasting peace, and its continued, and even accelerated, implementation remains fundamental for the present and future of Colombia,” he stated.
The head of the mission expressed, however, his concern about “the increase in political polarization,” and regretted the suspension of the transition process between the outgoing and incoming government.
Furthermore, he reiterated the call by UN Secretary-General António Guterres for political leaders to act “responsibly” and “reduce tension through dialogue.”
Regarding security, the Slovak diplomat assured that there is “public concern over the expansion of illegal armed groups” and admitted that recent dialogue initiatives with those organizations have had “limited results”.
Likewise, he stressed that security problems have “structural roots” that require “comprehensive responses contemplated in the peace agreement.”
According to the representative, regions such as Catatumbo and Cauca continue to suffer from intense violence due to the dispute between armed groups for control of strategic routes and illicit economies, a situation “aggravated by the scarce state presence.”
Jenča also denounced threats against the civilian population, the recruitment of minors, kidnappings, and forced displacements, and called for the release of eight people allegedly held by the ELN guerrilla group in the department of Cauca.
In addition, he demanded greater security guarantees for the more than 11,000 former FARC combatants who remain linked to the reintegration process and advocated for accelerating the rural reform provided for in the agreement, considering that “access to land and the economic development of the areas most affected by the conflict are essential to prevent the resurgence of violence.”
Finally, Jenča recalled that this year marks the tenth anniversary of the peace agreement, a milestone that, he stated, “must serve to consolidate the progress achieved and accelerate the implementation of pending commitments.”
