President Enrique Peña Nieto informed the Senate that he will leave Sept. 26 in order to be an honorary witness of the Final Accord for the Termination of the Conflict and Construction of Stable and Long Lasting Peace between the Colombian government and Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC).
Subsecretary of Legislative Connections and Political Accords Felipe Solís Acero stated that Peña Nieto’s participation in this historic event will reiterate the promise that Mexico has made to peace and stability in Latin America and the rest of the world.
This ceremony is a unique moment in history. Ending the longest armed conflict of the region, it initiates a new political, economic and social phase in Colombia.
Mexico has been a notable actor in various pacification processes in the region since the early seventies. It is important to Mexico to have an important role in the post-conflict era that will begin after the ceremony. Mexico plans to participate in the Special Political Mission of the United Nations to monitor and confirm the fulfillment of the Colombian peace accord and will also contribute to the Global Initiative for Colombia’s future, which is a disarmament agreement that aims to free the country of mines and explosive objects in the next five years.
The ceremony, which takes place next Monday, will congregate around five thousand invitees and will be led by Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos. The commander of FARC Rodrigo Lodoño Echeverri ‘Timochenko’ will be there along with Cuban President Raúl Castro, Chilean President Michelle Bachelet and Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. Additionally, United Nations Secretary Ban Ki-moon and and the presidents of Costa Rica, Guatemala, Ecuador and Peru have all confirmed their attendance.
By participating, Peña Nieto confirms Mexico’s role as leader in the region and responsible global actor, promoting stability, peace and development.
