“I would like, in the name of the Italian government, to express my full satisfaction with the accord on narcotics trafficking reached by the negotiators of the Columbian government and the FARC. This is an important step for security, development and peace in Colombia and throughout the region”, stated Under-Secretary Mario Giro.
“Italy and the European Union”, Giro continued, “encourage the negotiators to maintain the same constructive spirit in efforts toward a definitive accord that will finally ensure peace to the Colombian people. The announcement of a unilateral truce by the FARC and the ELN ahead of the presidential elections is an important gesture that I hope will lead to a lasting truce”.
“We are ready to lend our support to the realisation of a peace accord, and are already working on a humanitarian demining programme. We intend to ensure the rehabilitation of the rural areas most heavily affected by the conflict by strengthening cooperation, and to prevent the rise of crime through urban programmes”, the Under-Secretary concluded.
