February 26, 2026 08:00 am (IST)
Follow us:
Ban welcomes start of peace talks between Colombia, rebels
New York, Jun 11 (IBNS): United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Tuesday welcomed the announced start of peace talks between the Government of Colombia and representatives of the National Liberation Army (ELN), and encouraged all parties to remain committed to the pursuit of peace in the country.
The Secretary-General hopes that this new development “will contribute to ending the hemisphere’s longest armed conflict and to building sustainable peace for the Colombian people,” his spokesperson said.
Tuesday ’s announcement follows a peace agreement between Bogota and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC). Some 600,000 people have died since the conflict between the country’s authorities and the FARC began in the 1960s.
In November, after talks in Havana, Cuba, authorities and FARC representatives released a joint statement saying a deal had been reached leading the rebel group to disarm and to form a political movement. It also included provisions for enhancing the role of women, which Ban also welcomed.
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. In the past month, they also agreed to work together to combat drug trafficking.
(Internally displaced children, victims of conflict in Colombia. UN Photo/Mark Garten)
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
Iran ready for war or peace ahead of Geneva nuclear talks, says Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi
Wed, Feb 25 2026
WHO: Attacks on Ukraine’s health care surged 20 percent in 2025
Wed, Feb 25 2026
After 16 years, London eatery closes as Indian-origin owner alleges repeated attacks by Pakistanis
Tue, Feb 24 2026
Viral Irish food bank image triggers racist remarks against Indians
Tue, Feb 24 2026
Netherlands’ first openly gay PM Rob Jetten takes oath. Meet his partner Nicolás Keenan
Tue, Feb 24 2026
Who was El Mencho? Mexico's most wanted drug lord, with USD 15 million bounty, killed
Mon, Feb 23 2026
UK: Taxi driver jailed for nine years for raping sleeping passenger
Sun, Feb 22 2026