Leaders of the UN Mission and the UN System in Colombia reiterate their support and optimism towards the ceasefire and the peace process

Bogota, Colombia - The Special Representative of the Secretary General and Head of the UN Mission in Colombia Jean Arnault said today in a press conference that faced with the post-plebiscite questions, Colombian society is responding with maturity.

To illustrate it he noted four positive elements: the opening of a structured dialogue with sectors who supported the ‘no’ as well as all citizens; the decision and commitment at the highest level to maintain the ceasefire; confidence-building measures that create humanitarian relief and consolidate peace in the territories and the constructive attitude of those who did not see themselves reflected in the Peace Agreement, but stressed their support to peace and dialogue.

"This framework does not eliminate the concerns and challenges, but offers a channel, a methodology to overcome them in the context of the fundamental ask of all Colombians: that there is no return to armed confrontation and the rapid conclusion of a final peace agreement," said the UN Mission chief in the country.

Arnault noted a strong support for the UN Mission´s role during this transition period.

"Without claiming that this transition design is necessarily successful, we believe it is a mature response to the crisis that opened a week ago following the plebiscite results, and this will help the international community to renew its confidence in the peace process in Colombia," Arnault said.

"This is the message we will take in the upcoming days to the United Nations headquarters. And this is the recommendation we will make to Member States: that they respond with maturity to the maturity demonstrated by Colombians to this date, that they continue their respectful support to the national efforts, and in particular, that they authorize the UN Mission to fully participate in the verification of new measures to comply with the ceasefire, "added the head of the UN Mission in Colombia.

General Javier Perez Aquino, who heads the UN Mission’s international observers, coordinating the Tripartite Monitoring and Verification Mechanism stressed that international observers remain in eight regions in Colombia as well as at the national headquarters in Bogotá, while the Mission continues its preparations to coordinate the mechanism that will monitor and verify the bilateral ceasefire, following Government and the FARC-EP joint Communiqué on Friday 7 October.

Moreover, the UN Resident Coordinator in Colombia Martin Santiago added that United Nations agencies, funds and programmes in the country have been supporting the state's presence in different regions—and will continue to do so—and stressed the importance that the ceasefire be maintained.

"It is not the time to abandon the most conflict-affected communities; it is not the time to abandon the victims. We welcome the goodwill and willingness expressed by all parties to find ways that enable peace to become reality, reflecting the perspectives of different sectors of the population. Today peace in Colombia is closer than it was four years ago. As mentioned by the UN Secretary-General, we firmly believe that peace can still be achieved,” concluded Martin Santiago.