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’d like to start by thanking Special Representative Massieu for your briefing and for the work of your team. I’d 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’d like to make three points today:
First, I would like to congratulate the people of Colombia for making their voices heard in last month’s 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 President-elect Petro’s commitment to comprehensive implementation of the Final Peace Agreement and to addressing the challenges that remain. Foremost among these challenges, as we’ve heard, will be ensuring security for vulnerable communities affected by violence, displacement and confinement. We welcome the incoming administration’s commitment to creating the conditions for sustained and durable peace in Colombia, and hope a resumption of talks with the ELN will contribute to this.
Second, the UK welcomes the publication of the Truth Commission’s final report, a vital milestone in Colombia’s reconciliation process. We pay tribute to the Commissioners’ 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’s 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.