S/PV.10031 Security Council

In accordance with rule 37 of the Council’s provisional rules of procedure, I invite the representative of Colombia to participate in this meeting. The Security Council will now begin its consideration of the item on its agenda. I wish to draw the attention of Council members to document S/2025/595, which contains the report of the Secretary-General on the United Nations Verification Mission in Colombia. Members of the Council have before them document S/2025/693, which contains the text of a draft resolution submitted by the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The Council is ready to proceed to the vote on the draft resolution before it. I shall now give the floor to those members of the Council who wish to make statements before the voting.

I welcome the participation of the Permanent Representative of Colombia in this meeting. The United Kingdom reaffirms its unwavering support for the 2016 Final Agreement for Ending the Conflict and Building a Stable and Lasting Peace. Over the past decade, the United Nations Verification Mission in Colombia has been critical to the implementation of the peace agreement, supporting signatories and communities with reintegration and reconciliation. The Mission’s mandate should evolve in line with the situation on the ground, so that it can fully fulfil its primary objective of monitoring the implementation of the peace process. The draft resolution before us (S/2025/693) therefore focuses the Mission’s tasks on fundamental drivers of conflict in Colombia, while continuing to call for the full implementation of the peace agreement. The United Kingdom will continue to champion transitional justice in Colombia, which remains vital for reconciliation and sustainable peace. This includes our support to the Special Jurisdiction for Peace, which issued landmark sentences this year. We applaud the work of the Special Jurisdiction for Peace and welcome the progress being made on justice and accountability for victims. We will also continue to support an inclusive approach to peace in Colombia, including for Indigenous and Afro-Colombians, who have deep knowledge of their territories, cultures and conflict dynamics. This is crucial to building lasting peace. We urge the Security Council to continue its long-standing partnership for peace with the Colombian people, and we hope that Council members will join us in voting in favour of this draft resolution.

I shall put the draft resolution to the vote now.

The draft resolution received 13 votes in favour, none against and 2 abstentions. The draft resolution has been adopted as resolution 2798 (2025). I shall now give the floor to those members of the Council who wish to make statements after the voting.

The United States of America supports peace and security in Colombia, and we want to make that crystal clear and to put it on the record. In line with President Trump’s executive order on United States participation in multilateral organizations, the United States has stressed that the United Nations needs to focus and refocus on its role in maintaining peace and security and to reduce its activities’ financial burden, which is imposed not only on United States taxpayers but also on the taxpayers of all our countries and all Member nations. All our Governments, all of us here, have given many speeches about these missions often lasting too long, trying to do too much, costing too much and being financially unsustainable and not being tied to a true and realistic political process. Well, now is the time to make our actions meet our words. And let us enable the United Nations to reclaim that mantel of actually driving the world towards peace and security. So, in that regard, we appreciate the penholder’s efforts to reduce the mandate of the United Nations Verification Mission in Colombia, which has expanded well beyond its original intended scope. And by refocusing the United Nations Verification Mission in Colombia on its core function of verifying the demobilization of the Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia-Ejército del Pueblo, we are enabling the United Nations to do what we all proclaim that we want it to do. Nevertheless, the United States still has significant reservations about Colombia’s peace process, including the worsening security situation and the risk of impunity for terrorists and drug traffickers. In particular, President Petro Urrego’s policy priorities when it comes to peace and security, in Colombia, in the region and around the world, are misplaced and irresponsible and have contributed to greater instability and violence in Colombia. As a result, we cannot endorse this resolution (resolution 2798 (2025)). Under President Trump’s leadership, the United States is no longer willing to compromise on our positions on security and justice in the name of a flawed peace process. The United States remains committed to supporting peace and justice in Colombia, and our relationships with the people of Colombia and their institutions are strong and will remain strong long after President Petro Urrego leaves office, and his failed policies have been abandoned. To that end, we look forward to working with the future Government of Colombia and understanding its peace and security priorities and therefore the role of this United Nations Mission in supporting those goals.

At the outset, we welcome the delegation of Colombia, which honours us with its presence this afternoon. We also thank the United Kingdom for its effective leadership during this important process. Peace in Colombia means peace for Panama and the region as a whole. Accordingly, while we are delighted that the mandate of the Verification Mission has been renewed for a further year, we must convey our objection to the exclusion of the ethnic chapter and the verification of sanctions handed down by the Special Jurisdiction for Peace from its mandate. Beyond the fact that the sanctions imposed by the Special Jurisdiction for Peace and their restorative nature represent a worthwhile sui generis model, which has already garnered global recognition for its contribution to reconciliation, this transitional justice body, together with the resolute support of the Council, is a crucial part of the regulatory framework on which the high contracting parties have relied since the signing of the Agreement. We are confident that the broad support of the international community for the Final Agreement and its comprehensive regime of truth, justice, reparation and non-repetition will allow other organizations to contribute to filling the vacuum that has unfortunately been created today, thereby strengthening international support for Colombia’s efforts to achieve a lasting and inclusive peace.

I have the honour to deliver this explanation of position on behalf of the three African members of the Security Council plus (A3+), namely Algeria, Sierra Leone, Somalia and my country, Guyana. We welcome the adoption of resolution 2798 (2025), extending the mandate of the United Nations Verification Mission in Colombia, and acknowledge the efforts of the United Kingdom in its able facilitation of the negotiations. We welcome the participation of the Permanent Representative of Colombia in this meeting. We take note of the letter from representatives of ethnic organizations and authorities, grassroots and popular organizations and the letter from the victims and human rights organizations stressing the importance of the Verification Mission and all current aspects of its work. The A3+ attaches high importance to the effective implementation of the final peace agreement in Colombia and the work of the United Nations Verification Mission in accompanying that process. When the Security Council visited Colombia last year, we witnessed first-hand the implementation of the 2016 peace agreement, its associated successes and the existing challenges. We also heard from various stakeholders about their support for the Mission. We are therefore pleased that the Council has agreed to extend the Mission’s mandate for an additional year so that it may continue its work. The renewal of the Mission’s mandate demonstrates the Council’s commitment to continuing to support the Government and people of Colombia in their quest to achieve sustainable peace, including in the face of setbacks and challenges. We encourage the Government of Colombia to continue building on the gains achieved thus far and appeal to the international community to continue supporting the Colombian people. Notwithstanding our support for the adoption of the resolution, we are disappointed that the renewal of all aspects of the Mission’s mandate was not possible. One key missing element is the mandate to monitor the implementation of the ethnic chapter, which is of grave concern to the A3+, especially given the slow pace in implementing this chapter of the Agreement. We are disappointed that, despite the demands of the Despite these changes, the continued presence of the United Nations Verification Mission in Colombia affirms the Council’s firm backing for the Mission’s work and is an acknowledgement of the important contributions the Mission has made over the past eight years. The A3+ reiterates its unwavering support for the Verification Mission and the Special Representative of the Secretary-General-designate, Mr. Miroslav Jenča. We commend him and his team in Colombia for their important work and for their dedication to supporting the implementation of the peace agreement. In conclusion, the A3+ reaffirms its unwavering support for the people and the Government of Colombia in the implementation of the peace agreement and in their quest to achieving lasting peace.

To ensure the smooth renewal of the mandate of the United Nations Verification Mission in Colombia and given in particular the position of the country concerned  — Colombia  — China voted in favour of resolution 2798 (2025), just adopted. However, owing to the stubbornness and unreasonable demands of a permanent member, this resolution fails to reflect the expectations of Colombia and the overwhelming majority of Council members. China finds this deeply regrettable. I wish to stress the following three points. First, it is important to safeguard the achievements and momentum of Colombia’s peace process. At present, with the peace process at a critical phase, external encouragement and support are especially important. The unique role of the United Nations Verification Mission in Colombia is indispensable. The resolution just adopted renews the Mission’s mandate for one year and embodies, once again, the Security Council’s determination and confidence when it comes to supporting Colombia’s peace process. The international community should continue to support the Government and the people of Colombia in fully implementing the peace agreement and advancing peace, development and State-building nationwide and should support the Mission in contributing to the peace process in Colombia. Secondly, it is important to uphold Colombia’s ownership of, and voice in, the peace process. Colombia’s peace process is essentially Colombian-owned and Colombian-led. The international community should offer its assistance on the basis of respect for Colombia’s sovereignty and ownership. The Council has long positively responded to the aspirations of the Government and the people of Colombia, by mandating the Mission to help Colombia with the full implementation of the peace agreement. Positive steps have been taken on important matters, including the advancement of transitional justice and the protection of ethnic minorities. The views of the countries concerned have consistently served as an important reference for the Council in developing mandates for missions. However, a certain country’s disregard for the legitimate aspirations of Colombia and the collective appeal from the overwhelming majority of Council members has ultimately led to the failure of the resolution to fully uphold the spirit of past mandates. Yet for some time now, a certain country has put its own interests first and pursued its own strategic goals, while treating United Nations peacekeeping operations and special political missions as items on an à la carte menu, picking and choosing, pointing fingers and engaging in selectivity. Such simplistic, crude and irresponsible practices will only undermine the Security Council’s unity and authority, impact stability and continuity in the work of the United Nations and serve no one’s interests. We urge this country to rise above selfish interests and fulfil the commitment to maintain international peace and security through concrete actions.

Denmark voted in favour of this resolution (resolution 2798 (2025)). We did so affirming our belief in the value and importance of the United Nations Verification Mission in Colombia. This Mission means so much more than verification. It supports peace efforts and is a signal of international support for Colombia, a symbol to its people that they are not alone on their path to peace. Through today’s renewal, the United Nations Verification Mission in Colombia will be able to continue its important work in reporting to the Council, in ensuring compliance with the Final Agreement for Ending the Conflict and Building a Stable and Lasting Peace and in building trust among the parties. It provides clarity to those serving on the ground, including Special Representative Jenča, to whom we offer our full support. Nevertheless, we strongly regret that important parts of the Mission’s mandates have not been renewed. Just last month, the Special Jurisdiction for Peace issued its first restorative sentences. This was a pivotal and long-awaited moment and a historic step in the pursuit of justice and accountability for the most serious crimes committed during Colombia’s armed conflict, as well as to provide redress to the victims. We regret that the Mission will not be able to monitor and verify the implementation of the restorative sentences. After these first convictions, now is not the right time for the Council to turn away. Denmark is concerned for the impact that today’s decision may have at this critical and delicate time in Colombia’s transitional justice and broader peace process. Notwithstanding the Council’s decision today, we urge the authorities in Colombia to continue the important process of ensuring truth, reconciliation and accountability. We recall the important role of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in this regard. Denmark further regrets the removal of verification of the ethnic chapter in the Mission’s mandate. Indigenous peoples and Afro-Colombian communities remain disproportionately affected by insecurity in Colombia, with far-reaching implications for human rights, social cohesion and cultural preservation. What they require is increased support, not for us to remove international attention and oversight. In closing, both of these aspects, ensuring transitional justice and making progress in the ethnic chapter, represent key elements of Colombia’s peace process. That will not change. What will change, however, is the United Nations verification of progress and reporting to the Council. As we renew the Mission’s mandate today, we strongly regret this fact. We urge all stakeholders to remain committed to supporting the people of Colombia and the United Nations to continue its important work and good offices for lasting and sustainable peace.

France welcomes the extension of the mandate of the United Nations Verification Mission in Colombia and highlights its excellent work and the contribution it has made to implementation of the 2016 peace agreement. It is essential for the Mission to continue to play its advisory, support and galvanizing role. Although it regrets that the scope of the Mission’s mandate has France remains determined to working with the entire United Nations system to support the implementation of the two components of the peace agreement relating to the Special Jurisdiction for Peace and the ethnic chapter, which are essential for the return of durable and inclusive peace in Colombia. France expresses its support for the new Special Representative of the Secretary-General and the Mission and will continue to support the efforts to consolidate the progress made by the Colombian people towards peace.

The Republic of Korea welcomes the adoption of the resolution extending mandate of the United Nations Verification Mission (UNVMC) in Colombia for one more year (resolution 2798 (2025)). Although this resolution did not receive unanimous support for the first time in its history, it still reflects the Council’s steadfast will to support the implementation of the 2016 peace agreement. We must remember that the former Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia-Ejército del Pueblo combatants signed the agreement and committed to participating in the integration process after laying down their arms in the expectation that the entirety of the Agreement would be fully implemented. In this regard, the Republic of Korea reaffirms its belief that full implementation of the peace agreement is a prerequisite for achieving lasting peace in Colombia. In closing, my delegation expresses its appreciation to the United Kingdom for its outstanding role as a penholder and the other Council members for their collective efforts to preserve the UNVMC mandate throughout the difficult negotiation process.

We thank the United Kingdom as penholder for its efforts in steering the negotiations leading to the adoption of the resolution (resolution 2798 (2025)). Slovenia voted in favour of the resolution to enable the Mission to continue verifying implementation of the Final Agreement for Ending the Conflict and Building a Stable and Lasting Peace. At this important juncture in the full implementation of the Agreement, the Mission remains vital in supporting the translation of the aspirations of the peace process into tangible results. The Mission also remains best placed to maintain close contact with vulnerable communities in conflict-affected regions including women, children and members of indigenous and Afro-Colombian communities. These groups bear the brunt of the insecurity caused by protracted armed conflict. During the recent briefing on Colombia (see S/PV.10010), Council members joined the Secretary-General in welcoming the issuance of the first restorative sentences by the Special Jurisdiction for Peace — a pivotal moment in the peacebuilding process. We regret that despite overwhelming support, verification of compliance with and implementation of the sentences was not included in the Mission’s mandate. We remind the Council that the Agreement itself envisaged such verification and thus reflects the will of the parties. We are equally disappointed that the mandate omits the ethnic chapter. With this, allow me to conclude. I want to assure the parties and, most importantly, the people of Colombia of our unwavering support on their path towards lasting peace.

Pakistan has voted in favour of the resolution to renew the mandate of the United Nations Verification Mission in Colombia (UNVMC) (resolution 2798 (2025)). Our support for peace in Colombia, for the Colombian people and for the full implementation of the Final Agreement for Ending the Conflict and Building a Stable and Lasting Peace of 2016 remains unwavering and resolute. We recognize We note with regret that consensus eluded us this time on a matter on which resolutions have previously been adopted with the unanimous support of the Council. It is disappointing to lose the unity that has been the bedrock of our collective engagement on this file. The negotiations on the text were marked by significant difficulty, with the positions and concerns of the vast majority of Council members ultimately set aside to enable the adoption of this resolution. Regrettably, key provisions, including those related to the Mission’s robust oversight of critical components of the peace agreement, such as the transitional justice mechanism and the ethnic chapter, have been done away with. Similarly, references to the disproportionate impact of the conflict on Afro-Colombian and indigenous communities have been removed. These represented a rightful and deserved recognition of those who bore the brunt of the decades-long conflict in Colombia. These were not peripheral elements. Along with security aspects, these are central to achieving a peace in the country that is both inclusive and lasting, while at the same time contributing to conflict prevention in the future. A peace that does not address historical grievances and structural inequalities will be fragile. By softening our collective voice on these fundamental issues, we risk undermining the foundations of the 2016 agreement. The compromise text in no way diminishes Pakistan’s steadfast commitment to the full and complete implementation of the 2016 Final Agreement. We will continue to support the principles of inclusivity, justice and rural reform laid down in that Agreement. These are the sovereign choices that were made by Colombia in the pursuit of peace, and we stand in solidarity with the people of Colombia — all of them — and will not waver in our support for their courageous journey towards a stable and enduring peace.

Greece welcomes the adoption of this resolution (resolution 2798 (2025)) and thanks the penholder for their work. Greece voted in favour because we attach great importance to the continuation of the United Nations Verification Mission in Colombia. Greece fully supports the peace process anchored in the 2016 Final Agreement for Ending the Conflict and Building a Stable and Lasting Peace. We welcome the fact that the Mission will continue to support verification and monitoring of implementation of the Final Agreement, including section 1 on comprehensive rural reform. At the same time, we express our unwavering support and commitment to the ethnic chapter of the Final Agreement and to the transitional justice process, and encourage the Colombian Government to continue its efforts towards their full implementation. In this framework, we welcome the issuance by the Special Jurisdiction for Peace of the first historic restorative sentences against perpetrators of war crimes and crimes against humanity during Colombia’s armed conflict. We also underline our concern with regard to the fact that Indigenous and Afro- Colombian communities bear the brunt of armed violence and underline the need for their full protection. Greece remains committed to working closely with our fellow Council members on the Colombia file and supporting Colombia in the full implementation of the Final Agreement. Russia abstained in the voting on the resolution on extending mandate of the United Nations Verification Mission in Colombia (UNVMC) (resolution 2798 (2025)). At the same time, we continue to fully support the Mission’s work and mandate, in accordance with the priorities of Bogota and with successive Council decisions. Nevertheless, we cannot vote to reduce core components of the Mission’s mandate, namely the tasks related to implementing rulings of the Special Jurisdiction for Peace and the ethnic chapter of the Final Agreement for Ending the Conflict and Building a Stable and Lasting Peace. The first of those components was made part of the Mission’s mandate in 2021 and is more relevant than ever in the wake of that Special Jurisdiction’s recent rulings. To deprive Colombia of international support for transitional justice today displays not only disrespect for the Colombians themselves, for the victims of the numerous conflicts and their loved ones, but also indifference to the fates of the accused and convicted. We will continue to give priority to these issues during the Council’s quarterly discussions on the situation in Colombia and provide all possible support to efforts to comprehensively implement the Final Agreement, and to give full support to the peace process in Colombia and the work of the Verification Mission under the leadership of Miroslav Jenča. Our position is shared by all Council members except one. It is regrettable that, despite this, the penholders of the file in the Council were busy rewriting the resolution and adapting it to suit the whims of one delegation. It is clear to all of us that the threat of use of the veto and far-fetched arguments about the need for savings for the Mission  — which, incidentally, is one of the most cost-effective United Nations missions — merely reflect bilateral differences between Washington and Bogota. The Council’s decisions should not be held hostage to such emotions, nor should the drafters of Council resolutions indulge such emotions. I resume my functions as President of the Council. I now give the floor to the representative of Colombia.

On behalf of the Government of Colombia, I would like to express our sincere appreciation to the Council members for their support for peace in Colombia and their approval of the extension, for one more year, of the mandate of the United Nations Verification Mission in Colombia. In particular, we would like to thank the Russian Federation for its valuable work as Council President for this month, during which two meetings were held on the situation in Colombia (see S/PV.10010); to the United Kingdom for its committed work as penholder for this file; and to all the Council members who worked with dedication to arrive at wording that made possible the overwhelming support for the resolution (resolution 2798 (2025)). As we approach the ninth anniversary of the signing of the peace agreement, the decision taken by the Council today has profound significance for Colombia. It is a message of encouragement that invites us to persevere along the path of peace, in the transformation of our territories and the lives of all Colombians. With this decision, the Council sends a clear and heartening message: peace in Colombia must be preserved and strengthened. In that spirit, I would like to highlight a few points of convergence that reflect both my country’s commitment and the support of the Council. Colombia maintains its firm commitment to full implementation of the 2016 peace agreement and appreciates the assistance of the Mission on some of its most relevant aspects. Implementing what has been agreed is a State obligation that Now, I must also underline that the wish of Colombia, shared by the vast majority of members, was to preserve both transitional justice and the ethnic chapter within the extended mandate. The victim-centred model of justice is recognized internationally, including by the Council. And Indigenous Peoples and Afro-Colombian communities are two sectors of Colombian society that have been particularly affected by the conflict. We will continue with its implementation in any case. The comprehensive nature of the 2016 Agreement requires that its implementation be consistent, balanced and coordinated, as all of its points contribute jointly to the objectives of peace. This is what we seek to preserve and continue to recognize: the historic nature of the 2016 peace agreement, not only for Colombia, but for the world. As an indigenous woman and representative of the Government of Colombia to the Council, I know that peace is only sustainable when it is inclusive. That is why we deeply appreciate the work that the Verification Mission has been carrying out in all aspects of the mandate entrusted to it over the years. For Colombia, having the support of the Secretary-General and the Security Council is of particular importance. At a time when the world is talking about war, Colombia chooses to speak the language of peace. We therefore deeply appreciate the renewal of the mandate of the Verification Mission and trust that, under the recognized leadership and experience of Mr. Miroslav Jenča, the Mission will continue to work closely with the Government and people of Colombia in successfully building a stable and lasting peace for all Colombians.

There are no more names inscribed on the list of speakers. Before adjourning the meeting, as this is the last scheduled meeting of the Council for the month of October, I would like to express the sincere appreciation of the delegation of the Russian Federation to the members of the Council, and to the Secretariat for all the support they have given us. Indeed, it has been a busy month, and one in which we rallied to consensus on several important issues within our purview. We could not have done it alone and without the hard work, support and positive contributions of every delegation and the representatives of the Secretariat, including the technical support team, conference service officers, interpreters, translators, verbatim reporters and security staff. As we end our presidency, I know I speak on behalf of the Council in wishing the delegation of Sierra Leone good luck in the month of November.