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STORY: UN / COLOMBIA
TRT: 03:47
SOURCE: UNIFEED
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGES: ENGLISH / SPANISH / NATS
DATELINE: 03 OCTOBER 2025, NEW YORK CITY / FILE
FILE - NEW YORK CITY
1. Med shot, UN flag, UN Headquarters
03 OCTOBER 2025, NEW YORK CITY
2. Med shot, Colombian Representative, Security Council
3. SOUNDBITE (English) Miroslav Jenča, Assistant Secretary-General for Europe, Central Asia and Americas, Departments of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and Peace Operations, United Nations:
“As we meet today the country is entering a delicate period that poses additional challenges. The coming national elections are increasing political tension and polarization. Current fiscal constraints impinge upon financing for peace. Recent tragic acts of violence and patterns of insecurity in certain regions are prompting urgent calls to enhance security”
4. Wide shot, Security Council
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Miroslav Jenča, Assistant Secretary-General for Europe, Central Asia and Americas, Departments of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and Peace Operations, United Nations:
“The conflict inflicted immeasurable suffering on victims and their families. The transitional justice process is delivering unprecedented convictions and acceptance of responsibility by those who committed serious crimes, while involving victims in the process and offering redress to them through restorative action to be carried out by the perpetrators.”
6. Wide shot, Security Council
7. SOUNDBITE (English) Miroslav Jenča, Assistant Secretary-General for Europe, Central Asia and Americas, Departments of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and Peace Operations, United Nations:
“I am confident that the Mission can continue to play a critical role while adapting to changing needs and circumstances. As part of the UN80 exercise, the Secretary-General proposed significant efficiencies while preserving the Mission’s core capacity to deliver on its mandate.”
8. Wide shot, Security Council
9. SOUNDBITE (English) Miroslav Jenča, Assistant Secretary-General for Europe, Central Asia and Americas, Departments of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and Peace Operations, United Nations:
“Colombia is a rare case in which the Council has been able to respond with targeted assistance to a nationally owned peace process. These are favorable circumstances for the United Nations to continue to make a positive and focused contribution.”
10. Wide shot, Security Council
11. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Leonor Zalabata, Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Colombia:
“Colombia reaffirms today, before this Council and the international community, that the Peace Agreement signed in 2016 remains in force. This Government assumes it with historical responsibility and with full determination to advance its comprehensive implementation.”
12. Med shot, Colombian Representative
13. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Leonor Zalabata, Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Colombia:
“We reiterate the importance of the Verification Mission for Colombia. Its work constitutes a pillar for the consolidation of peace, acting as an early warning channel, a strategic partner for the State’s response, and an impartial actor before the communities.”
14. Wide shot, Security Council
15. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Leonor Zalabata, Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Colombia:
“Renewing the Mission’s mandate would not only be an act of support for Colombia and its people, but also a clear demonstration that this Council honors its primary responsibility to preserve international peace and security.”
16. Wide shot, Security Council
17. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Leonor Zalabata, Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Colombia:
“Peace in Colombia is not only a national goal: it is a global public good that we must all protect.”
18. Wide shot, Security Council
Today (03 Oct), in his first briefing to the UN Security Council as the newly designated Special Representative for Colombia, Miroslav Jenča reaffirmed the organization’s strong commitment to supporting the country’s nine-year-old peace process.
He also thanked the Government of Colombia for its continued cooperation with the UN Verification Mission and underscored the crucial role of the Security Council in the progress achieved to date. The veteran diplomat and negotiator formally take up his post later this month.
Jenča emphasised that the comprehensive implementation of the Final Peace Agreement remains the cornerstone of efforts to consolidate lasting peace in the country, which formally ended decades of conflict between FARC-EP rebels and Government forces.
He acknowledged significant progress in key areas such as rural reform, reintegration, and transitional justice, while also highlighting ongoing challenges, particularly in the areas of security and financial support.
Jenča welcomed the process which this month saw the first sentences handed down under transitional justice measures by the Special Jurisdiction for Peace (JEP), describing it as a historic milestone in the pursuit of truth, justice, and reparation.
“The conflict inflicted immeasurable suffering on victims and their families. The transitional justice process is delivering unprecedented convictions and acceptance of responsibility by those who committed serious crimes, while involving victims in the process and offering redress to them through restorative action to be carried out by the perpetrators,” he said.
The Special Representative expressed concern over the resurgence of violence in certain regions, underscoring that insecurity remains the greatest threat to peace.
He stressed the urgent need to ensure the safe conduct of upcoming national elections and the protection of communities and former combatants alike.
Finally, Jenča reaffirmed the UN mission’s readiness to adapt to evolving needs and to continue building confidence between parties to the peace deal on the ground.
He noted that the Mission’s presence in conflict-affected areas is essential and emphasised that Colombia is a “rare case” in which the Council has been able to respond with targeted assistance to a nationally owned peace process.
“These are favorable circumstances for the United Nations to continue to make a positive and focused contribution,” Jenča concluded.
Colombia’s Ambassador Leonor Zalabata reaffirmed her Government’s full commitment to the comprehensive implementation of the 2016 Peace Agreement.
She reiterated “the importance of the Verification Mission for Colombia. Its work constitutes a pillar for the consolidation of peace, acting as an early warning channel, a strategic partner for the State’s response, and an impartial actor before the communities.”
She continued, “Renewing the Mission’s mandate would not only be an act of support for Colombia and its people, but also a clear demonstration that this Council honors its primary responsibility to preserve international peace and security.”
She concluded, “Peace in Colombia is not only a national goal: it is a global public good that we must all protect.”
