Mr. President,
First of all, I would like to thank the special representative, Mr Carlos Ruiz Massieu, for his presentation. France is grateful to you about the work done in Colombia and it assures you of all its support for your next functions in Haiti. I also salute the presence of His Excellency, the Deputy Minister for Multilateral Affairs of Colombia, Mauricio Jaramillo Jassir and we send you the congratulations of France for the election of Colombia to the Security Council for next year.
Mr. President,
It is happy that this session devoted to national reconciliation is placed on this auspicious day of tribute to Nelson Mandela.
1. First of all, monitoring the situation in Colombia by this advice is an example of success that should be saved.
The process in Colombia, initiated by the 2016 peace agreement, is a model for resolving crises. The advances obtained in this context thanks to a shared will of the parties and to the support by this council via the support that we grant to the United Nations verification mission and to the special representative must be welcomed. This mission must be able to continue to play its role of advice, support and impulse. It is advisable to redouble a vigilance when an electoral period opens and the fight against violence in political life remains a primordial issue for the outcome of the peace process. I present France’s tribute to so many officials who have fallen because of their fight for peace. France will continue to work with all partners to preserve the mobilization of this advice.
2. Second, this international support must go hand in hand with the acceleration of the implementation of the peace agreement. The political will of the Colombian government will thus result in concrete results for the population.
In this regard, I will insist on three axes of efforts when the authority of the State is gradually reinstalling throughout the territory:
i. First of all, respect for human rights and the protection of populations against violence. Armed groups must stop their violent actions. Colombian state efforts to protect veterans, social officials, native personalities and the most affected communities must be supported. The situation of children, victims of recruitment by armed groups, sexual violence and other serious violations of their rights, is worrying. France calls for armed groups to free up the recruited children without condition and to put an end to these practices of another age contrary to international law.
II. Second, transitional justice. Progress has been made by the special jurisdiction for peace in the search for truth and the establishment of responsibilities. I salute the presence of the representative of this special jurisdiction. Repairing sentences, as soon as they have been pronounced, must be implemented. France calls for dialogue between the parties to allow this process to move forward.
III. Third, rural reform. The allocation and regularization of land must continue. This need to allocate the necessary capacities and improve interinstitutional cooperation. France, as a “accompanying country” of this chapter of the peace process, will continue to support Colombia in this area.
Mr. President,
France expresses its respect and admiration for the courage and intelligence of Colombians engaged on the path so steep from national reconciliation. She encourages the Colombian government to redouble their efforts to consolidate the advances made. Through their bilateral relationship with the Colombian people to whom an old friendship dies, as through the action of this council, France remains mobilized to help a lasting peace in Colombia, a model of settlement for other conflicts.
Thank you.
