UN envoy for Colombia voices concern over economic reintegration of former rebels

Source: Xinhua| 2018-10-11 04:25:39|Editor: yan
Video PlayerClose

UNITED NATIONS, Oct. 10 (Xinhua) -- The head of the UN Verification Mission in Colombia on Wednesday voiced concern over the economic reintegration of former rebel fighters in the South American country.

The vast majority of the former fighters of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) in the process of reintegration still have no clear economic prospect beyond the monthly stipend that is to end by August 2019, Jean Arnault told the Security Council.

The resumed National Council on Reintegration has therefore a huge task before it, under the difficult circumstances of a much wider geographical dispersion of the former members of FARC, said Arnault, who is also the special representative of the UN secretary-general in Colombia.

To succeed, the council needs a solid consensus on its approach to productive projects, land and the proper mix of collective and individual reintegration, he said.

Some of the lessons learned from the past year include the need to connect reintegration much more directly to local development; to empower local authorities; and to link up more systematically with the private sector, universities and other actors willing and able to assist with long-term reintegration, he said.

Arnault asked Colombia's Congress to approve the government's budget proposal for next year's public spending on reintegration.

"Resources will of course be critical. We have taken note that the government's budget proposal for 2019 provides that public spending on reintegration be maintained at the same level as last year."

Political participation of former rebels is positive, he said.

Eight of the 10 FARC representatives afforded seats in the two chambers of Congress have assumed their responsibilities and are contributing to the debates and the legislative activities of these bodies, he said.

"We welcome the collegial spirit that is being displayed in Congress in spite of sharp political differences. We also note that the financial difficulties that undermined FARC participation in the elections at the beginning of this year have been largely overcome. We appreciate that President (Ivan) Duque's efforts to build political consensus on policy issues have included FARC members of Congress."

The Colombian government and FARC struck a peace deal in August 2016 after four years of negotiations in Havana, Cuba, ending a five-decade-long conflict in the country. The UN Verification Mission in Colombia, mandated by the Security Council, is tasked to verify the reintegration of FARC fighters.

TOP STORIES
EDITOR’S CHOICE
MOST VIEWED
EXPLORE XINHUANET
010020070750000000000000011105521375239421