On Colombia’s Peace Agreement Anniversary, Secretary-General Welcomes Commitment of Former Combatants, Government’s Land Restitution

Following are UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ remarks at an event marking the fifth anniversary of the Final Peace Agreement, in the Llano Grande reintegration area in Colombia, today:

Greetings to everyone and thank you for the warm welcome at the beginning of my visit to Colombia to celebrate the fifth anniversary of the Peace Agreement.  I am pleased to be in Llano Grande and note first-hand the achievements of peace.

The Agreement has a transformative drive to the root causes of the conflict, so its implementation and success in the territories is crucial, and I am pleased to note the impact of the measures to implement the Agreement alongside the person mainly responsible for it, my dear friend, [Colombia] President Iván Duque [Márquez].

I appreciate having the opportunity to listen to community members, indigenous and Government authorities.  They know better than anyone that peace does not occur overnight.  It is hard to build, take care of and sustain.

I welcome the persistence and commitment of former combatants in this region historically impacted by the conflict, as well as of so many other sites that continue to strive to build a peaceful Colombia day by day.

I congratulate them on their productive projects which, with the support of the Government and the international community, are moving forward despite the difficulties.  I recognize your enthusiasm and dedication.  We must redouble efforts to ensure the sustainability of projects through technical and financial support, land and housing.

I welcome the Government’s land restitution and trust it will extend to all areas of reincorporation.  Land is vital to a sustainable process and gives peace of mind to those reintegrated.  Access to land and rural development are among the priorities of the Peace Agreement, including for women.

Providing the former combatant population with economic prospects requires not only public investment but also active participation by the private sector.  I appreciate the involvement of the coffee industry in the peace process.

I also thank the women and men of the Army and the National Police for their work with former combatants and communities for peace.  Their work to ensure the safety of former combatants, social leaders and human rights defenders is pivotal to consolidating peace.  And here is a paradox:  the aim of peace is to prevent enemies in a society, but unfortunately there are enemies of peace, and I want to express to its victims, the families and the friends of its victims my solidarity.

I recognize the work of the community of Dabeiba and other nearby municipalities as an example of integration and reconciliation for receiving former combatants with open arms and for normalizing democratic life in which the voices of all are heard.  This accounts for true human qualities of community, generosity, hope and courage to build a better future.

I convey the solidarity of the United Nations with the indigenous peoples of Dabeiba and Colombia in the face of the violence that continues to affect their lives, customs and ancestral territories.

I am grateful for the presence of indigenous leaders who, with their example of forgiveness and organization, continue to strive to make peace a reality.  I take note of your concerns, especially about insecurity and housing, and of course, during our exchanges with the Government and the Verification Mission, we will strive to work better to improve cooperation between the Government and the United Nations.

You can count on the commitment of the United Nations — the Verification Mission, United Nations agencies, funds and programmes — to peacebuilding, both in Llano Grande and in the other communities affected by the conflict in Colombia.

With humility I recognize that our work is secondary, the essential work is the one [done] by Colombians.  If this were a film, we would not be Oscar nominees for the best actor, but only for the best supporting role.