October 04, 2026 03:43 am (IST)
Follow us:
Ban congratulates Colombians on presidential vote
New York, Jun 17 (IBNS): Following confirmation that President Juan Manuel Santos has been re-elected, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Monday said he looks forward to continuing to work with his Government in "efforts to promote peace, human rights and development" for all Colombians.
In a statement from his spokesperson, Ban said that Colombia is closer than ever to ending the hemisphere’s longest armed conflict through negotiations between officials and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC).
“This is an historic opportunity that should not be missed,” he said, reiterating the UN’s support, as requested, to the conclusion of the negotiations and implementation of the agreements reached.
In November, Bogota and the FARC released a joint statement announcing an agreement covering the latter’s participation in national politics. The agreement also called for the FARC to disarm and form a political movement.
According to Government estimates, some 600,000 people have died since the conflict between the country’s authorities and the FARC began in the 1960s.
The two sides are working to end the long-running conflict through full implementation of the General Agreement for the End of the Conflict and Building a Stable and Lasting Peace, signed two years ago.
Ban “encourages the parties to bring the peace talks to a successful conclusion as soon as possible, building on the important achievements to date,” according to the statement.
The UN chief also highlighted the importance of input and support from civil society in the peace efforts, and encouraged the parties to listen to those voices.
In addition to the FARC, Santos’s Government announced last week the start of peace talks with representatives of the National Liberation Army (ELN). Ban had welcomed the move.
Support Our Journalism
We cannot do without you.. your contribution supports unbiased journalism
IBNS is not driven by any ism- not wokeism, not racism, not skewed secularism, not hyper right-wing or left liberal ideals, nor by any hardline religious beliefs or hyper nationalism. We want to serve you good old objective news, as they are. We do not judge or preach. We let people decide for themselves. We only try to present factual and well-sourced news.
Support objective journalism for a small contribution.
Latest Headlines
UAE calls Flydubai cockpit attack a ‘terrorist act’; Omani pilot tried to take control
Sat, Oct 03 2026
flydubai cockpit attack: Deleted posts expose Omani co-pilot’s views on women, alleged extremist past
Sat, Oct 03 2026
flydubai cockpit horror: Omani co-pilot Hamam al-Hammami attacked Captain Smit Machchhar with crash axe, tried to seize control
Sat, Oct 03 2026
flydubai temporarily suspends all Israel flights after co-pilot’s alleged cockpit attack, crash attempt
Sat, Oct 03 2026
Grounded in Oman over ‘radical views’, then hired by flydubai: What we know about Omani pilot Hamam al-Hammami
Sat, Oct 03 2026
Flydubai co-pilot who stabbed Smit Machchhar identified, was banned from flying by Oman due to suspected extremism: Report
Sat, Oct 03 2026
UK-Iranian national arrested over RAF Fairford terror plot probe
Fri, Oct 02 2026