France's Hollande describes Colombian peace process as a world example, visiting rebel transition camp

Record ID: 165485

  • Title: France's Hollande describes Colombian peace process as a world example, visiting rebel transition camp
  • Date: 24th January 2017
  • Summary: CALDONO, CAUCA, COLOMBIA (JANUARY 24, 2017) (REUTERS) ***WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** GENERAL VIEW OF FRENCH PRESIDENT, FRANCOIS HOLLANDE, AND COLOMBIAN PRESIDENT, JUAN MANUEL SANTOS, ARRIVING AT PODIUM HOLLANDE AT THE PODIUM HOLLANDE AND SANTOS AT THE PODIUM HOLLANDE AND SANTOS DURING SPEECH (SOUNDBITE) (French) FRENCH PRESIDENT, FRANCOIS HOLLANDE, SAYING: "Here with you, the international community can also contemplate, with the example you have given here in this camp, that what is possible for Colombia is also possible for other conflicts in the world. This process is an example in the region, which was a zone of great conflict and where hope returns today." HOLLANDE AND SANTOS DURING SPEECH (SOUNDBITE) (French) FRENCH PRESIDENT, FRANCOIS HOLLANDE, SAYING: "We are here in this camp, which shows that disarmament and demobilisation is possible and irreversible. I wanted to observe it, and I have to say it is very impressive to see members of the government and the FARC in the same uniforms, in such way that they cannot be distinguished before speaking to them, and that along with members of the United Nations, the three groups share the same living spaces and sleep under the same tents and eat the same food." HOLLANDE AND SANTOS DURING SPEECH (SOUNDBITE) (French) FRENCH PRESIDENT, FRANCOIS HOLLANDE, SAYING: "Who would have imagined just one year ago that the presidents of Colombia and France would be here in a demobilisation camp with representatives of the FARC, and if you allow me, you have done this, you, President Santos, and that is what allows us to hold this meeting here today as part of this historic process." HOLLANDE AND SANTOS DURING SPEECH (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) COLOMBIAN PRESIDENT, JUAN MANUEL SANTOS, SAYING: "We had the opportunity to visit the different facilities, and President Hollande was very impressed by the good organisation, and I want to thank all those responsible." SANTOS AND HOLLANDE SHAKING HANDS SANTOS AND HOLLANDE LEAVING PODIUM HOLLANDE WAVING TO REPORTERS AS HE ENDS OFFICIAL VISIT
  • Embargoed: 7th February 2017 20:40
  • Keywords: Francois Hollande Juan Manuel Santos Colombia France peace
  • Location: CALDONO, CAUCA, COLOMBIA
  • City: CALDONO, CAUCA, COLOMBIA
  • Country: Colombia
  • Topics: Diplomacy/Foreign Policy,Government/Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA00160FYHJB
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: French President Francois Hollande said Tuesday (January 24) that the Colombian peace process stood as an example to regions in conflict throughout the world, as he visited a transition zone for Marxist rebel fighters in Colombia´s mountainous southwest.
    Hollande - the first French president to visit Colombia since 1989 - travelled to the camp alongside Colombian President, Juan Manuel Santos, where he said he would assess how France could help to accelerate the process underway to end 52-years of civil war with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC).
    After greeting Colombian troops working in the zone, Hollande and Santos met with the head of the United Nations observation mission in Colombia, Jean Arnauld, who is a French citizen, and FARC commander, Pablo Catatumbo.
    Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Hollande said the Colombian peace process stood as an example to the rest of the world.
    "Here with you, the international community can also contemplate, with the example you have given here in this camp, that what is possible for Colombia is also possible for other conflicts in the world. This process is an example in the region, which was a zone of great conflict and where hope returns today," said Hollande.
    Twenty-six transition zones are being installed throughout the country, where some 5,700 members of the FARC rank and file will undergo disarmament over a period of six months under United Nations supervision, before reintegrating into civil society.
    Hollande said he was impressed by the interaction of government officials with members of the FARC and of the UN in the camp.
    "We are here in this camp, which shows that disarmament and demobilisation is possible and irreversible. I wanted to observe it, and I have to say it is very impressive to see members of the government and the FARC in the same uniforms, in such way that they cannot be distinguished before speaking to them, and that along with members of the United Nations, the three groups share the same living spaces and sleep under the same tents and eat the same food," said Hollande.
    Wrapping up his official visit to Colombia, where Hollande met with victims of the conflict and signed diverse bilateral accords, he congratulated Santos for his part in developing the historic peace process.
    "Who would have imagined just one year ago that the presidents of Colombia and France would be here in a demobilisation camp with representatives of the FARC, and if you allow me, you have done this, you, President Santos, and that is what allows us to hold this meeting here today as part of this historic process," said Hollande.
    The FARC were expected to be concentrated in the zones as of December 31, but the process was delayed due to infrastructure issues. Santos said the visit had shown these were well on the way to being resolved.
    "We had the opportunity to visit the different facilities, and President Hollande was very impressed by the good organisation, and I want to thank all those responsible," said Santos.
    Hollande is the first foreign head of state to have visited one of the transition zones, following a visit by Germany's Foreign Minister and Presidential candidate, Frank-Walter Steinmeier.
    France has contributed a total of 17 million Euros (18.28 million U.S. dollars) to a European Union fund worth 95 million Euros ($102.17 million) established on December 12, 2016, for the implementation of the Colombian peace process.
    The Socialist president, who currently maintains a four percent satisfaction rate among French voters, conceded recently that he would not run in France's upcoming presidential elections, which are widely expected to be won by the right or far-right.
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