New York – UN Special Representative of the Secretary General and Chief of the United Nations Mission in Colombia Jean Arnault joined a press briefing today at the UN headquarters and reiterated Colombians´ consensus around the ceasefire, with an important UN Mission role to coordinate, monitor and verify its compliance.

With a vast experience in the United Nations and previous peace processes, including in Latin America, Arnault highlighted that Colombia's process differs from others not so much due to the difficulties in reconciling opposing views, but due to the victims’ leadership role, with face to face meetings between victims and victimizers.

”This is the recognition that behind all the tragedy there are human beings, with the will and the ability to overcome pain,” Arnault said.

Arnault explained that following his meeting with the Security Council yesterday, the Council members have not yet cleared the UN Mission’s provisional mandate. The UN Secretary General will recommend, with the Government of Colombia and Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia-People’s Army (FARC-EP) consensus, that the Security Council answers to their request for the UN Mission to verify the ceasefire according to the 13 October protocol. This , mostly entails what the Council had already approved in January, except the laying down of arms.

He stressed that in spite of the concern over first days following the plebiscite, Colombians´ response was mature. 

“A strong consensus has emerged, which will guide all parties and society: there cannot be a return to war. And people have been very vocal about this,” Jean Arnault said.

In addition to the commitment to cease offensive actions, there is a commitment to protect the civilian population, with civil society responding positively after the plebiscite, according to Arnault.

“People want a broad political agreement and they want it quickly,” he added.

“The parties are clear that the war is—and should—be over,” he said, adding that the UN Mission’s presence and role in coordinating the three-party mechanism to monitor and verify the ceasefire can bring tranquillity during this process.