UN Ambassadors spoke on the implementation of the peace agreement in the Duque Government

Following President Iván Duque's speech to the United Nations Security Council, some Ambassadors to the UN expressed their views on the implementation of the peace agreement that he has had in the current Colombian mandate.

The US Ambassador to the UN, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, highlighted the economic support given to the peace agreement, and also pointed to the national territory as an example for the accompaniment it has had with Venezuelan migrants.

On behalf of China, Ambassador Zhang Jun highlighted the process as a model for de-escalating conflicts at the global level; although he pointed out that there should be greater speed in terms of substitution of illicit crops and reforms for agricultural development.

Another comment that positively highlighted the participation of the peace agreement in this year's elections was the Ambassador of the United Kingdom, Tariq Ahmad, but he also acknowledged a concern about the increase in homicides of social, peasant and indigenous leaders that the country is having.

For his part, the Ambassador of Russia, Vasili Nebenzia, who has been questioned for his interventions on the invasion of Ukraine, noted that Colombia is showing an increase in violence reflected in the targeted killings: “The Government is not able to ensure the physical safety of participants of the agreement. There are gaps in state authority in rural areas. There are major failures.”

Meanwhile, he noted that implementation of the agreement in the country is progressing but noted a worrying increase in violence in vulnerable communities.

On the operation in Putumayo, which has raised suspicions about a violation of International Human Rights, the UN said: “The department of Putumayo has been equally affected by violence in recent weeks. I emphasize the importance of a thorough investigation by the competent authorities into the reported deaths of eleven people, including indigenous and community leaders, in the context of a military operation against members of an illegal armed group in Puerto Leguizamo.”

President Duque calls for UN Verification Mission to extend its mandate by 12 years

Speaking to the United Nations Peacebuilding Commission (UN), President Iván Duque requested that the United Nations Verification Mission continue to be the guarantor of the implementation of the Peace Agreement for another 12 years. The president assured that this is one of the most important instruments of the process and are already closely linked to it.

“Don't look at us as if you are auditing the Colombian peace process. Do not feel that you are part of the Colombian peace process and feel that everything that is done correctly can become a benchmark, a model for the rest of the world, and that is another contribution that you can make to improve other processes,” Duque said.

The mandate of this oversight was extended until October 31, 2022, however, the Government requested that the mission be extended by 12 years because that is the time in which it is planned to complete the implementation of the Final Peace Agreement. The Government requested the intersection of the entity in the process, which is why it is now the same one requesting the expansion of the period.

It should be recalled that last year, the General Secretariat of the Organization of American States (OAS) authorized the extension of the operation of its Mission to Support the Peace Process (MAPP/OAS). This unit already has 17 years of experience in Colombia. It currently has 18 regional offices permanently deployed, mainly in rural and isolated areas of the country.

This extension of MAPP's work period is argued by the fact that both the Colombian Government and the OAS are convinced that regional cooperation is indispensable for the construction of peace. At this stage, it is planned that the group will continue to monitor progress made on the Peace Agreement.

KEEP READING: