Colombia, 2012

Two years ago, during my first address before the

Assembly as President of Colombia (see A/65/PV.15), I

expressed my country’s aspiration to become a member

of the Security Council for the period 2011-2012.

We assumed the responsibility of participating in

making decisions about critical situations that threaten

world peace in a spirit of absolute independence and

well aware of the enormous commitment required to

work for international peace and security. It has been

a particularly turbulent time, but one during which the

aspirations of many peoples who had suffered long conflicts and armed confrontation have been furthered.

Countries like Liberia, Sierra Leone and Côte d’Ivoire

are now making strides towards peacebuilding and the

rule of law.

In Libya, a ruthless tyranny in place for more than 40

years was dismantled in a process in which the Security

Council played a decisive role. My Government did

not hesitate to condemn the violent repression of the

civilian population justly clamouring for the exercise

of their fundamental rights. That is why we joined the

Council’s decisions furthering a transition towards

a democracy that, although still fragile, enjoys the

support of the international community as it seeks to

entrench itself. There are still violent groups that want

to sabotage that process by terrorist methods. I take

this opportunity to condemn in the strongest terms the

despicable attack perpetrated against the United States

consulate in Benghazi. Extremism, terrorism and

disregard for human life cannot be allowed to persist.

Today, the Arab world is experiencing a

fundamental political transformation, opening the

way towards democracy. If the process is to last, it

will require respect for people’s rights and the creation

of conditions conducive to sustainable economic

development. We hope that participation by citizens,

especially women, will continue to increase and foster

democratic systems and opportunities for development

and welfare.

With regard to the dire situation in Syria for more

than a year and half, I must express our deep frustration

with the inability of the international community to put an end to the tragedy that every day takes more and more

Syrian lives. From this rostrum, we reiterate our call

for an end to the attacks and for a political negotiation

that will meet the legitimate aspirations of all sectors

of Syrian society. Implementing Kofi Annan’s six-point

plan would greatly contribute to facilitating a Syrian-

led political transition. We strongly support the new

Joint Special Representative of the United Nations

and the League of Arab States, Mr. Lakhdar Brahimi,

and wish him much success in his very complex and

difficult task.

As a representative of a country that is currently

a member of the Security Council, I would like to

brief ly turn to the matter of its reform, which has

been under discussion for 20 years. Colombia believes

that consensus should be our guide in developing a

comprehensive approach that includes change in both

the Council’s composition and its working methods so

as to promote more effectively the United Nations goals

of peace, well-being and humanity.

In our hemisphere, one country that requires

comprehensive peacebuilding is Haiti. We continue to

work for Haiti. Its recovery will require our continuous

support in strengthening its capacities, institutions

and productivity so as to generate employment, reduce

extreme poverty and promote the United Nations work

for development in the country. I urge everyone to

persevere in that cause.

A key event for the world this year was the United

Nations Conference on Sustainable Development

(Rio+20). Inspired by the Millennium Development

Goals model, Colombia led the proposal to establish

the sustainable development goals, which was the

most important outcome of the Rio+20 process. Today,

the sustainable development goals promise to be a

fundamental component of the planet’s development

agenda, and the Secretary-General himself has

identified them as one of the five priorities of his

legacy. We are therefore especially pleased that our

Foreign Minister has been invited to be a member of the

high-level panel on the post-2015 development agenda,

which held its first meeting yesterday.

This year, the sixth Summit of the Americas gathered

in Colombia, with 30 Heads of State and Government

from the western hemisphere in attendance. It was a

fruitful gathering, which for the first time we organized

simultaneously with a business summit attended by the

leaders of the premier companies of the Americas. We

also held a social forum that brought together people

from diverse social organizations on the continents.

The Summit of the Americas in Cartagena was

characterized by frank and open dialogue about the

most crucial issues for the region and the world. The

Governments of the Americas agreed to undertake

an analysis and discussion of the track record,

effectiveness and future prospects of the so-called war

on drugs, as well as possible alternatives to it. It is our

duty to question with scientific objectivity whether we

are doing the best we can or if there are better options

to more effectively combating the scourge. To that end,

we mandated the Organization of American States

to begin an analysis and discussion, inviting other

entities — the first of which would be, of course, the

United Nations — to participate.

That is only a first step, but it is of great importance

because it is the beginning of a discussion that the

world has avoided for many years. We hope that it will

ultimately yield concrete results. The debate about

drugs that have caused so much harm throughout the

world and to my country must be frank and, most

certainly, global.

Similarly, in my statement before the General

Assembly two years ago, I expressed my conviction

that the dawning decade should be the decade of

Latin America and the Caribbean — a decade that

would consolidate that region of the world as a region

of peace, progress and solutions for the rest of the

planet. Today, we are pleased to note that our region

is indeed experiencing a favourable moment with solid

economies, functional democracies and no current

conflict among the nations of which it is formed.

Regional coordination mechanisms of relatively

recent establishment, such as the Union of South

American Nations and the Community of Latin

American and Caribbean States, are evidence of the

resolve of our countries and peoples to cooperate. I

would like to highlight the enormous potential of the

Pacific Alliance that was formalized this year among

Mexico, Peru, Colombia and Chile. The Alliance is

open to the participation of other States with which we

seek to strengthen not only trade but also political and

human ties, as well as to the nations of the immense

Pacific basin.

I cannot conclude without referring to the special

moment that our country is currently experiencing.

Against the backdrop of international turbulence, we have been successful in maintaining a healthy economy

that has generated over 2 million new jobs over the

course of two years, attesting to the major progress

we have made in reducing poverty. We have put in

place initiatives of great social impact, such as a law

for victims, which is the only legislation in the world

that seeks to return lands to displaced peasants and

to compensate the victims of a conflict that remains

ongoing; or major hydrocarbon and mining royalties

reform to more fairly distribute the revenues generated

by such activities, and thereby promote more effective

social development.

Nevertheless, our progress, which has been

remarkable, has been curtailed by an absurd conflict

that has now lasted half a century. Today, Colombia

is suffering through the most prolonged internal

armed conflict in its hemisphere, indeed perhaps one

of the longest-lasting in the world — an ever-more

anachronistic and inexplicable conflict. Above all, it

is inexplicable in the light of the development of our

democracy and of our social progress.

Aware of that, and without neglecting the

protection and security of the Colombian people and

without ceding an inch in the fight against terrorism

and crime, my Government is resolved to move forward

prudently, seriously and firmly, and without repeating

the mistakes of the past, by entering into conversations

with the guerrilla forces in order to achieve an end to

the armed conflict.

After two years of exploratory contacts, we have

announced to the country and to the world that a

phase of talks will be initiated on a short and concrete

agenda, which we hope will allow us to achieve the

desired outcome. The talks will begin in Oslo during

the first half of October and will continue in Havana,

thanks to the goodwill of the Governments of Norway

and Cuba, which will serve as guarantors. We will also

have the backing of the Government of Venezuela, to

which we are grateful for its valuable support, and of

the Government of Chile, which will be working with

us during the second phase.

Today, before the General Assembly, I wish to

thank the international community for the support it has

expressed at outset of the talks and for its willingness

to cooperate and help in any way that is necessary. We

embark upon the talks with moderate optimism and in

the absolute conviction that it is an opportunity that

we cannot squander to achieve a peace that is good not

only for Colombia but for the entire region. With regard to my statement today, a few days ago I

asked the Colombian people through social media what

message they wanted me to bring here to the General

Assembly. Among the many messages I received, I

want to share one from my compatriot Henry Rodríguez

Chacón: “An entire generation wants to wake up one

day to the news of a peace agreement.” That is the most

heartfelt wish of the Colombian people.

Aware that the process must have brief deadlines

and precise terms if it is to be successful, I trust that

I will be able to deliver to the Assembly next year a

positive outcome of the effort, which we undertake

enthusiastically with a view to ending our 50-year

conflict.

We do not want to talk just about peace; we want

to build conditions for peace. That is what we are doing

on a daily basis with the actions of our Government and

now with the talks that we are initiating. Today, with

great hope, we present the world with this new special

moment for my country, Colombia.