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The MAPP/OAS will Accompany the Peace Process in Colombia for Three more Years

The Mission to Support the Peace Process in Colombia (MAPP) of the Organization of American States (OAS), which has performed its work for more than a decade, will continue to support the process in the South American country at least until 2018, according to the agreement signed between the Colombian government and the multilateral institution.

The OAS Secretary General, José Miguel Insulza, signed today the Fifth Protocol to the Agreement between the Republic of Colombia and the General Secretariat, which had been signed by President Juan Manuel Santos on December 1 in Bogotá. The document acknowledges the work of the OAS through the MAPP and provides for the extension of the mandate at least until January 2018. The agreement specifies that the accompaniment will be "broad and flexible to the peace policy of the Colombian State regarding illegal armed groups, incorporating in all work areas a differential approach to gender, ethnicity and age."

During the signing ceremony, Secretary General Insulza thanked President Juan Manuel Santos and the Colombian people "for the trust they continue to place with this Mission to Support the Peace Process, a Mission that is perhaps the most important of OAS, born almost 11 years ago to accompany the objectives of peace in that country."

In reviewing the progress made by the MAPP since its inception, the head of the Organization said that the accompaniment "has been brought forward expanding substantively and gradually its areas of work, always with a commitment to accompany the government in its efforts and providing our knowledge in a number of areas such as agricultural development, political participation, ceasefires, combating drug trafficking and addressing victims issues, among others, all issues that are included in the peace process." He also recalled the experience gained by the Mission in the last decade considering it an advantage, in that "we have learned lessons that we hope are going to be valuable for the new peace process that has begun."

The Secretary General also said that 2015 "is a key year for Colombia since it has the possibility of ending the armed conflict that has existed for more than 50 years and we are confident that we can contribute significantly." The leader of the multilateral institution said the document signed today represents the fifth extension of the original agreement, "which shows a strong partnership between the government of Colombia and the OAS." The Secretary General concluded by thanking the countries that have offered their support to the work of the MAPP over the years.

For his part, the Permanent Representative of Colombia to the OAS, Ambassador Andrés González, recalled that his country "has sought longingly for peace, reconciliation and coexistence," saying that "we have perhaps the oldest of the armed movements of the Hemisphere and the longest conflict, but we also have the perseverance of a country and a government seeking a political solution to this conflict." In this context, he called today's signing "an instrument of singular value to the efforts of the government of President Santos."

The Colombian diplomat highlighted some of the key topics included in the agreement, including the monitoring of the ceasefire and hostilities, demobilization and disarmament, accompaniment in the prevention of child recruitment, restitution of land, reparation to victims and "support for state actions regarding education for peace and the implementation of agreements reached by the national government." "This new three year agreement will allow us to renew enthusiasm and to look to the horizon with much greater security, with international support, something that will be vital for us," he said.

Ambassador González said the document recognizes not only the work of the MAPP, but also supports future activities arising after signing the agreements that are under negotiation in Havana. He also highlighted the experience of the OAS in several of the topics included in the peace negotiations, and the contribution that the Pan American institution has made through the efforts of humanitarian demining, considered "one of the fundamental steps for land reclamation."

The signing ceremony was also attended by the Assistant Secretary General of the OAS, Albert Ramdin; the Ambassador of Colombia to the United States, Luis Carlos Villegas; the President of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), Luis Alberto Moreno, and several representatives of member and observer countries.

A gallery of photos of the event is available here.

The video of the event will be available here.

For more information, please visit the OAS Website at www.oas.org.

Reference: E-553/14