Spanish MEP, Marina Albiol, Vice-Chair of the European Parliament's Delegation to the Euro-Latin American Parliamentary Assembly, comments: “We would like to congratulate the Colombian people for this historic gesture which is an important step in the path towards ending violence throughout Latin America. It is an important opportunity to consolidate peace in Colombia and end murder, blackmail and harassment of human rights defenders.”

“We urge the Colombian Government to strengthen its negotiations with the National Liberation Army (ELN), since peace will not be completely achieved without an agreement with them.

“We also regret that the recent arrest of the former leader of the ELN, Carlos Velandia, was a move in the opposite direction.”

Spanish MEP, Tania González Peñas, Vice-Chair of the European Parliament's Delegation for Relations with Countries of the Andean Community, adds: “After 50 years of conflict, 220,000 lives lost and nearly 6 million people displaced, it is important that the implementation of the ceasefire and the final agreement is made with respect for human rights, particularly memory, justice and reparation for the victims.”

“We want to congratulate the people of Colombia and offer our support on the road to sustainable and inclusive peace, based on gender equality and protecting the rights of the most vulnerable.

“We will endeavor to ensure that the next government of Spain supports this process bilaterally, and within the EU, the Organization of Ibero-American States and the Security Council, as well as contributing to the UN mission to be deployed in Colombia to verify the ceasefire and cessation of hostilities, and oversee the disarmament of armed groups.

“The peace process in Colombia is an example for the world. We want to take this opportunity to reiterate our commitment to conflict resolution through dialogue and mediation, against those who want to impose their reason through fear or violence,” she concluded.

 

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