Havana, Cuba, October 7, 2016
Delegations from the national government and the FARC-EP, after meeting in Havana with guarantor countries and the head of the United Nations' special mission in Colombia, Jean Arnault, would like to inform the public that:
After almost four years of intense talks, this past August 24 we concluded the Final Agreement for the Termination of the Armed Conflict and the Construction of a Stable and Lasting Peace, to which we are committed. We believe it contains the necessary reforms and measures to lay the foundation for peace and guarantee an end to the armed conflict.
We, nevertheless, recognize that those who participated in the plebiscite this last October 2 voted NO in their majority, although by a slim margin. Within the framework of Presidential powers which the Political Constitution grants, it behooves us to continue listening, in a rapid, effective process, to different sectors of society to understand their concern, and promptly define a resolution via the routes indicated by the Constitutional Court's ruling, C-376 of 2016. The proposed adjustments and clarifications that result from this process will be discussed by the national government and the FARC-EP, to give everyone security.
2. We reiterate the commitment assumed by the President of the Republic and the FARC-EP Commander to maintain the Ceasefire and Bilateral, Definitive End to Hostilities decreed this past August 29, with monitoring and verification by a tri-partite body. As well as security and protection guarantees for communities in their territories, as defined by both parties in the Protocol.
To strengthen this ceasefire, we have agreed to a Protocol meant to prevent any incident in pre-grouping zones in defined quadrants, and to assure a climate of security and tranquility with full implementation of all regulations governing the Ceasefire and Bilateral, Definitive End to Hostilities.
The tripartite monitoring and verification mechanism, with the participation of the government and the FARC-EP, with United Nations coordination, will be in charge of monitoring and verifying the implementation of the Protocol, in particular, adherence to regulations governing the ceasefire.
3. With this purpose, we request of the United Nations Secretary General, and through him as an intermediary, the Security Council, to authorize a United Nations Mission in Colombia to assume the tasks of monitoring, verification, resolution of differences, recommendation, reporting, and coordination of the Monitoring and Verification Mechanism, as foreseen in Resolution 2226 (2016), referring to the abovementioned Protocol.
Likewise, we invite the countries which contributed unarmed observers to the mission to continue the deployment of their men ad women, who will continue to be protected by all necessary security measures.
4. At the same time, we will continue to advance in the roll-out of measures of a humanitarian nature to build confidence, such as searches for persons considered disappeared; humanitarian pilot plans to remove mines; the voluntary replacement of illicit crops; commitments made regarding the departure of underage combatants from camps; and those dealing with individuals deprived of their liberty.
5. The delegations thank the Red Cross International Committee for their ongoing support; Chile and Venezuela as accompanying countries; and above all Cuba and Norway for their intense, disinterested support to the construction of the peace accords for Colombia, their constant contributions to the search for solutions in difficult moments, and their willingness to continue supporting the peace process.
