S/PV.7773 Security Council

I wish to warmly welcome the Heads of State and Government, the Secretary- General, Ministers and other representatives present in the Security Council Chamber. Their presence today underscores the importance of the subject matter under discussion. In accordance with rule 37 of the Council’s provisional rules of procedure, I invite the representative of Colombia to participate in this meeting. On behalf of the Council, I welcome His Excellency Mr. Juan Manuel Santos Calderón, President of the Republic of Colombia, and request the Protocol Officer to escort him to his seat at the Council table.

The Security Council will now begin its consideration of the item on its agenda. I now give the floor to the Secretary-General, His Excellency Mr. Ban Ki-moon.

It is a pleasure to welcome President Santos Calderón to the Chamber today and to share the good news he brings. After more than four years of arduous negotiations with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia—People’s Army, a Final Peace Agreement is finally at hand. I salute President Santos Calderón’s vision, courage and leadership in ending through negotiations a conflict that has caused so much suffering for the Colombian people for so many decades. This great achievement is the work of Colombians — the parties and the many organizations and individuals who contributed to the negotiations. The international community has been privileged to support their efforts. I would like to recognize in particular the contributions of Cuba and Norway, the guarantors, along with Chile and Venezuela, the accompanying nations. The United Nations has been entrusted with important responsibilities, in particular in the monitoring and verification of the ceasefire and the laying down of arms. I commend the Security Council for its unanimous, timely and effective action in responding to Colombia’s request for assistance. When the parties asked for this support in January, there was still no ceasefire, much less a final agreement. Yet the Council did not hesitate. They believed in the Colombian peace process and you acted. We are now well advanced in the deployment of the United Nations Mission in Colombia. Some 200 unarmed observers and civilian staff are on the ground, deploying to the zones where they will carry out their verification, working with the parties and engaging with communities and local authorities. Their numbers will grow quickly as the next stages of the peace process are completed. Their presence aims to help ensure that crucial commitments will be kept and to build confidence in the peace process. I thank the Council for its latest resolution 2307 (2016), authorizing the recommendations contained in my report (S/2016/729) regarding the mandate, size and logistical requirements for the Mission. I assure members that the Mission will work in a coordinated fashion alongside the existing United Nations system in Colombia. United Nations agencies, funds and programmes have been supporting peacebuilding in Colombia for many years. They are gearing up to provide all possible support for the implementation of the agreements, including by continuing their importantwork on promoting human rights, implementing development programmes and providing humanitarian assistance. I commend President Santos Calderón once again for his vision and determination. It will be an honour to attend the signing ceremony in Cartagena on Monday. These comprehensive agreements offer Colombians not only the end of a conflict, but the prospect of lasting peace rooted in more equitable development, a fully inclusive democracy and redress for millions of victims. At a time of armed conflict in many other places, peace in Colombia sends a powerful message of hope to the world.

I thank the Secretary-General for his briefing. I now give the floor to President Santos Calderón. President Santos Calderón (spoke in Spanish): I have come before the Security Council first and foremost to thank all of its members for the support extended to my country and Government in establishing peace. I am also here to report the outcome of almost six years of negotiations — two years in secret and four in open talks — that is the result of a great effort to end the last armed conflict in the western hemisphere, which lasted 52 years and inflicted all sorts of suffering and pain on my country. The Final Peace Agreement is sui generis, because this may be the first time ever that two parties have reached an accord to establish a special peace jurisdiction and court and submit themselves to its authority. This is the first time that the victims have been placed at the centre of the solution to a conflict, along with their rights to truth, justice, reparations and non-recurrence. This is also the first peace agreement that has a special chapter on gender, ensuring that women enjoy the same rights as men. We stress that particular aspect. I bring the thanks of 50 million Colombians, and above all the 8 million victims among them, for the support offered by all members of the Security Council to our work, which represents a contribution to world peace.

I now invite President Santos Calderón to present the Final Peace Agreement to the President of the Security Council.

I extend to President Santos Calderón and his Government, as well as to the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia—People’s Army, the Council’s warmest congratulations on having concluded the Final Peace Agreement. The Agreement offers the promise of a new reality of security and prosperity for all Colombians.