Bogota - Nine representatives of the Government of Colombia, an equal number of members from the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia—People’s Army (FARC-EP) and 18 international observers from the UN Mission in the country have started working together at the joint Monitoring and Verification Mechanism HQ, in Bogota.

On Monday, representatives from the three parties kick start joint activities in the first five of the eight regional offices: Florencia, Popayan, San José del Guaviare, Valledupar and Villavicencio.

Women and men part of the joint mechanism will monitor and verify the bilateral ceasefire and cessation of hostilities. They are also planning and coordinating logistics for the regional offices and the zones where the separation of forces will take place.

"For the United Nations this joint effort is essential. Is an initial guarantee to all and Colombians that we are advancing with what was jointly agreed by the parts on bilateral ceasefire monitoring and verification—which was also unanimously approved by the UN Security Council," said General Javier Perez Aquino, Coordinator of the tripartite Mechanism and head of international observers at the UN Mission in Colombia.

"This mechanism installed today reflects the commitment of the Government, FARC-EP and the United Nations to begin building a stable and lasting peace for Colombia," said Rear Admiral Orlando Romero Reyes, delegate of the National Government in the tripartite mechanism.

"We follow the path of peace with social justice for the benefit of all Colombians. The mechanism will work to guarantee compliance with the agreement, "said Marco Leon Calarca, chief of the FARC-EP in the Mechanism.

The Tripartite bilateral ceasefire and cessation of hostilities Monitoring and Verification Mechanism is composed of representatives of the Government and the FARC-EP, under the coordination of international observers from the UN Mission in Colombia. The joint Mechanism enables the Government, FARC-EP and the UN Mission to directly observe compliance with the agreement and promptly resolve any disputes.

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