Bogotá, January 24, 2017 - Presidents Juan Manuel Santos of Colombia and François Hollande of France visited the local site for the Tripartite Monitoring and Verification Mechanism (MVM) in Caldono, Cauca to take stock of the progress in the zone.

The Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the UN Mission in Colombia, Jean Arnault, explained the role of the UN Mission to the French Head of State, verifying the laying down of arms and also coordinating the Tripartite Monitoring and Verification Mechanism of the ceasefire and cessation of hostilities, with the Government and the FARC-EP. The French delegation visited the local site of the Tripartite Mechanism in La Venta, department of Cauca, close to an area where the separation of forces will take place.

President Santos thanked President Hollande for his country's support to peace in Colombia, both through the European Union and the Security Council, which has unanimously supported the UN Mission in Colombia.

Likewise, the French president said he was impressed to see the members of the FARC-EP Government with the same vest living and working  with the UN Mission in blue uniforms.