UN
Final stage of the laying down of arms has been initiated by the FARC-EP
Pondores, La Guajira 20 June 2017. During his visit to Colombia, United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs, Jeffrey Feltman, visited the Transitional Point Pondores in La Guajira, accompanied by the Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Mission in Colombia, Jean Arnault, and the Resident Coordinator of the United Nations System in Colombia, Martin Santiago.
Mr. Feltman underscored that the United Nations is proud to be accompanying the two parties in this process and sent a message of support for the next phase of the peace process that will deal with reincorporation. "I want to tell the Colombian government and members of the FARC-EP that the United Nations will continue to respond to requests by the two parties for the implementation of the peace agreement," Feltman said.
"What has been achieved here is truly unique in the world; I am very happy to have been able to see the Tripartite Monitoring and Verification Mechanism (MVM); I am also very happy to have been able to see the evidence of the process of transit to legality. I hope that other countries can profit from the Colombian example and move towards peace, "said USG Feltman
In addition, Mr. Arnault announced the start of the final stage of individual laying down of arms by members of the FARC-EP. "It is very gratifying to celebrate the beginning of the third phase of the process of the laying down of weapons here in Pondores. For us at the United Nations, it is an exceptional moment, which marks the culmination of the efforts for which the Security Council established the United Nations Mission in Colombia a year ago “said Arnault.
During the visit, they met with members of the FARC-EP Secretariat, Pastor Alape, Joaquín Gómez and Ricardo Granda, and with the High Commissioner for Peace, Sergio Jaramillo.
"Once again we are showing, not only to the Colombian people but to the world that our vocation for peace is sincere, that our greatest desire is for Colombian families to reconcile," said Joaquín Gómez for whom the beginning of the final phase of laying down of weapons is a sign of good will for peace by FARC-EP.
Mr. Jaramillo expressed his enthusiasm at the beginning of the last stage of the lay-down of weapons process and invited Colombians to acknowledge the progress of the peace process. "I want to invite society to recognize this great step that is taking place, which is not only disarmament but the passage into civilian life of the men and women of the FARC-EP," indicated Jaramillo.
The UN Deputy Secretary General's agenda will continue on Wednesday and Thursday in Bogota with high-level meetings, including with the national leadership of the MVM, the Ministry of Defence, the Catholic Church, and civil society organizations.
The United Nations Mission in Colombia is consolidating figures from this final phase of the laying down of weapons and will publish its results shortly.
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