The United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs, Rosemary A. DiCarlo, concluded her first visit to Colombia today by reaffirming the UN's commitment to continue to accompany national efforts to implement the Peace Agreement.
On the first day of the visit, Ms. DiCarlo met with the President of Colombia, Iván Duque Márquez, at the Presidential Palace. President Duque was accompanied by the Vice President, Marta Lucía Ramírez; the High Commissioner for Peace, Miguel Ceballos; the High Counsellor for Post-Conflict, Emilio Archilla; the Vice Chancellor, Adriana Mejía; and the High Counsellor for Human Rights, Francisco Barbosa. In a joint press conference after the meeting, Ms. DiCarlo expressed her support for the President’s efforts to implement the Agreement despite challenges encountered. She acknowledged the President’s commitment to advancing peacebuilding and reaffirmed the support of the United Nations for the Government's efforts in this regard.
Ms. DiCarlo also met with Rodrigo Londoño, President of the new FARC political party and FARC Senator Sandra Ramírez. Ms. DiCarlo congratulated them for their decision to lay down their weapons in favor of participation in politics, in compliance with the Peace Agreement, and their continued commitment to the peace process in the face of difficulties and uncertainties.
Ms. DiCarlo also met with representatives of civil society. One recurring theme was a shared concern over killings of social and community leaders. She subsequently met with the President of the Truth Commission, Francisco de Roux, and the President of the Special Jurisdiction for Peace, Patricia Linares, to learn about progress in the implementation of the Comprehensive System of Truth, Justice, Reparation and Non-Repetition and to ratify the United Nations’ strong support for both institutions.
On the second day of her visit, Ms. DiCarlo travelled to a the Territorial Area for Training and Reintegration (TATR)in San José de Oriente in the department of Cesar, where she heard about the progress and challenges of the reintegration process from the perspectives of former combatants, as well as local authorities and the UN Verification Mission staff. She was accompanied by the Head of the UN Verification Mission, Jean Arnault, and the Deputy Special Representative, Jessica Faieta, as well as former guerrillas. She was able to tour an ecotourism project, a bakery, a tailoring shop and classrooms. "I was impressed by their commitment to peace and the entrepreneurial spirit with which they are working, and I am confident that they will succeed," said Ms. DiCarlo.
She also heard FARC concerns for the reintegration process, especially those related to access to land and the implementation of productive projects. In a meeting with public security forces, Ms DiCarlo thanked them for their efficient work in providing security to the reintegration process.
To access photos of the visit of the United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs, Rosemary DiCarlo to Colombia go to flickr.com/photos/misiononucol/albums