UN Continues Contribution to Colombia-FARC Peace Talks

© East News / Radius ImagesOverview of Bogota, Colombia
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Delegate of UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, Jean Arnault, has paid a visit to Havana along with UNASUR (Union of South American Nations) delegate Jose Bayardi to take part in peace talks between the government of Colombia and the FARC rebel group.

UNITED NATIONS (Sputnik) – Arnault was in Cuba’s capital, which has been hosting the peace talks, on September 13-17. Both the UN and the UNASUR delegate were received by the heads of both the Colombian government and FARC delegations.

"Mr. Arnault and Dr. Bayardi will contribute to the discussions of the sub-commission on a monitoring and verification system and the preparation of its implementation. During the subcommittee’s meeting, a report on the progress made on the various issues discussed in this body was received," the United Nations said in a Thursday statement.

"Both delegates will continue to participate in future meetings of the sub-commission and contribute to its work".

The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) rebel group was established in 1964 as the military wing of Colombia's Communist Party. Since then, military confrontation between FARC and the Colombian government has been ongoing, with over 200,000 people having been killed as a result.

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The two sides have been engaged in peace talks since November, 2012, and have reached a number of important agreements including one on landmine removal. The issue of punishment for those responsible for killings and kidnappings during the civil war remains unresolved.

In June, FARC and Colombia's government reached an agreement on the creation of a joint Truth Commission.

The commission is tasked with gathering testimony from victims and witnesses of Colombia’s civil war. However, it is unable to use the information to bring up criminal charges against FARC members, government troops or other fighters.

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