Peaceful Presidential elections in Colombia signal a commitment to sustained and durable peace
Statement by Ambassador Barbara Woodward at the UN Security Council briefing on Colombia
Thank you, President. And I鈥檇 like to start by thanking聽 Special Representative Massieu for your briefing and for the work of your team. I鈥檇 also like to appreciate and pay tribute to our briefers Father de Roux and Ms Piamba, and to welcome Foreign Minister Ramirez to our meeting today. Foreign Minister, we appreciate your dedicated engagement with this Council throughout your tenure.
President, I鈥檇 like to make three points today:
First, I would like to congratulate the people of Colombia for making their voices heard in last month鈥檚 Presidential election. We commend political stakeholders, officials, and volunteers for their dedication and for helping to ensure that the election was fair, inclusive, and recognised by all parties.
We commend聽President-elect Petro鈥檚聽commitment to comprehensive implementation of the Final Peace Agreement聽and to addressing the challenges that remain. Foremost among these challenges, as we鈥檝e heard, will be ensuring security for聽vulnerable communities affected by violence, displacement and confinement.聽We welcome the incoming administration鈥檚 commitment to creating the conditions for sustained and durable peace in Colombia, and hope a resumption of talks with聽the ELN聽will contribute to this.
Second, the UK welcomes the publication of the Truth Commission鈥檚 final report, a vital milestone in Colombia鈥檚 reconciliation process. We pay tribute to the Commissioners鈥� hard work in this vast undertaking, and to the thousands of victims who gave evidence for their courage.
The UK is committed to helping all parties implement the Commission鈥檚 recommendations, and to supporting the follow-up committee that will supervise their implementation.
Third, we continue to encourage the acceleration of rural reform. Whilst significant steps have been taken so far, accelerated progress on the Territorially Focused Development Plans and the multipurpose cadastre should help build confidence in the commitment to peace and advance rural development to support the transformation of conflict-affected regions.
Mr President, in conclusion, the UK remains fully committed to supporting Colombia on its path to lasting peace, and to helping the people of Colombia to overcome the challenges that remain.
I thank you.