To support the intensive negotiations of the Colombian peace process taking place in neutral territory in Cuba between the Colombian government and the FARC guerrillas as an attempt to restore stability in the country, there was a public hearing today in the European Parliament at the initiative of the Socialists and Democrats Group, in regards to the EU's support to the Colombian Peace Process.
It is the first time the Colombian government and FARC negotiators have appeared on the same panel to address the European public.
In addition to the Colombian representatives and EU Special Envoy to the peace talks, Eamon Gilmore TD participated in the hearing.
Following this hearing Richard Howitt MEP, S&D Group foreign affairs coordinator and organiser of the public hearing, said:
"In the week after the European Parliament demonstrated unprecedented unanimity in its vote to support the Colombian peace process, this hearing proposed by the S&D Group, but with similar cross-party support here in Brussels, was intended to demonstrate the same high level of support and encouragement directly to both sides and to the Colombian people, and to demonstrate to them international support in favour of peace.
"This is the first time that negotiators have appeared together on a panel to address the European public, and we thank them for agreeing to do so.
"Last year I had the privilege of personally being present at the peace talks in Havana, as part of a delegation convened by the NGO 'Justice for Colombia' advising on lessons from the Northern Ireland peace process. I came away believing an end to the world's longest-lasting civil war can and will happen, and that Europe has a duty to do everything possible to support peace for the Colombian people, and to be present to support and safeguard the future final agreement which we hope will be made.
"Today has been a follow-up to that visit. I hope it will broaden that belief both here in Europe and in Colombia itself.
"Ms Mogherini has pledged this and I am proud that her Special Representative, Mr Gilmore, was also here with us today.
"I hope the European Parliament can play its own constructive role to support security guarantees and justice and democracy-building in the same spirit of the peace negotiators themselves.
"Europe can help Colombia forge a different future and an end to the long years of deaths and abuses, which continue even today.
S&D MEP Ramón Jáuregui Atondo added:
"The peace in Colombia puts an end to guerrillas' movements which caused bloody civil wars in many Latin American countries throughout the 20th century.
"We want to congratulate the government, President Santos and the FARC for their courage to make possible two principles; firstly the decision of the FARC to make politics without violence, understanding that no cause, political or social, can be defended by killing, and secondly to the Colombian government because it has decided to open the political system to the defence of the ideas of the FARC.
"The Peace in Colombia will definitively settle democracy, the rule of law and peace in all Latin American countries."
