Here’s the translation to American English:
During his first address to the Security Council as the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Colombia, Miroslav Jenča reaffirmed the United Nations’ strong commitment to the peace process in the country. Throughout his speech, Jenča expressed his gratitude to the Colombian government for its ongoing collaboration with the Verification Mission and emphasized that the comprehensive implementation of the Final Peace Agreement, signed in 2016, is essential for achieving lasting peace.
As part of a preparatory visit to Colombia in September, the representative met with various social actors, including government members, former combatants, leaders of indigenous and Afro-Colombian communities, as well as prominent representatives of civil society. While acknowledging progress in key areas such as rural reform and reintegration, Jenča expressed his concerns about the persistent challenges, especially in security and funding issues.
One of the most celebrated milestones by the representative was the issuance of the first restorative sentences by the Special Jurisdiction for Peace (JEP), an important step in the pursuit of truth, justice, and reparations in the conflict. These actions, which include searching for missing persons and mine removal, were underscored by Jenča, who urged the state to create the necessary conditions for their effective implementation. He also noted that insecurity represents the greatest risk to the sustainability of the peace process.
Jenča emphasized the importance of the Verification Mission in conflict-affected areas, reaffirming its readiness to adapt to the changing needs of the process. He described the Colombian case as “exceptional” in the context of the Security Council’s assistance to country-led peace processes.
Ambassador Leonor Zalabata, Colombia’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, also reaffirmed the government’s commitment to implementing the Peace Agreement, presenting progress in areas such as land formalization and support for former combatants in their reintegration process. However, she warned about the violence affecting social leaders and the persistent social gaps, emphasizing that peace in Colombia is a global public good.
On the other hand, the representative of the United States questioned President Gustavo Petro’s security and peace policies. He suggested that the mandate of the Verification Mission has been excessively expanded and mentioned that Washington is reviewing the UN’s support for this mission, which could create new tensions in an already delicate context. The future of the peace process in Colombia requires international attention and collaboration, reaffirming the importance of commitments made by both the government and global institutions.
via: MiMub in Spanish