A historic peace agreement between the Government of Colombia and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) was signed this week in Cartagena, Colombia to end 52 years of war and violence.
The Revolutionary Forces of Colombia, also known as the People’s Army (FARC), is considered the oldest, largest, and one of the richest guerrilla armies in the world. FARC was born in 1964 and established as a military wing of the Colombian Communist Party, also known as “Partido Comunista Colombiano (PCC).” FARC has been classified as a terrorist organization by the governments of Colombia, Chile, New Zealand, Canada, the United States and the European Union. The guerrilla army was known for kidnapping, ransom, attacks in energy infrastructure, illegal mining, extortion, taxation, and the production and distribution of illegal drugs.
This week, the President of the Republic of Colombia Juan Manuel Santos, and the FARC Leader Rodrigo Londoño, who is best known among the guerrilla army as Timochenko made history by signing a peace agreement that ended one of the longest active wars in Latin America.
During the historical peace ceremony, FARC Leader Timochenko publicly expressed to the people of Colombia, “In the name of the FARC, I ask sincere forgiveness to all the victims of the conflict and for all the pain we may have caused in this war. Our only weapons will be our words.”
The president of the 71st session of the UN General Assembly, H.E. Peter Thomson shared the following statement during the official signing ceremony of the Final Peace Agreement in Colombia, “I am honored to have been invited by the government of Colombia, in my capacity as president of the General Assembly, to attend the official signing ceremony of the Final Peace Agreement that took place today, 26 September 2016, in Cartagena de Indias.
“I welcome this historic opportunity, which brings an end to more than 50 years of armed conflict and opens a new chapter of peace in Colombia and Latin America. I wish to congratulate all involved and pledge my continued support to the Colombian peace process.
“The 2030 Agenda clearly states that there can be no sustainable development without peace and no peace without sustainable development. I therefore look forward to the full implementation of the agreements and to continue our strong engagement and support so the remarkable progress achieved may be reconfirmed in the coming months and years. Colombia and this process are an example and a beacon of hope to the international community.”
Among the American dignitaries who witnessed the peace agreement ceremony in Cartagena, Colombia were UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, Thomson and U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry.
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