White House hails new Colombia peace agreement
The White House on Saturday hailed the modified agreement between the Colombian government and rebel forces.
“The United States congratulates the Government of Colombia on reaching a revised peace agreement with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia,” White House national security adviser Susan Rice said in a statement.
{mosads}”This progress is a testament to the commitment shown by all sides, including those who did not support the original accord, to ending this 52-year conflict and building a just and lasting peace in Colombia,” Rice said.
The agreement announced Saturday promises to be more fiscally sustainable and will obligate the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) to compensate the victims of the conflict, according to Bloomberg.
The previous agreement between the Marxist rebel group and the government officials was rejected by Colombian officials after the “No” campaign heavily criticized the agreement for being too lenient with the rebel group.
“President Santos and his negotiating team, those from the ‘No’ campaign, and other important sectors of Colombian society deserve credit for engaging in a far reaching and respectful national dialogue following the plebiscite,” Secretary of State John Kerry said in a statement.
Kerry acknowledged that “no peace agreement can satisfy everyone in every detail,” but he called the modified agreement “an important step forward on Colombia’s path to a just and durable peace.”
Rice said that the U.S. remains committed to supporting the Colombian peace initiative and will continue to aid the country by assisting with implementation of the peace accord.
“We commend President Juan Manuel Santos for forming an inclusive national dialogue to incorporate into this revised agreement concerns of those who voted against the initially proposed peace agreement. We appreciate how difficult and complicated the negotiations have been and recognize that the new provisions, while an important step forward, will not necessarily satisfy everyone,” Rice added.
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