Latin America and the Caribbean is a Zone of Peace!

The National Political Council of the Common Revolutionary Alternative Force (FARC) rejects the reckless and threatening statements made by President Ivan Duque at the United Nations General Assembly in Washington, where he stated that “Cuba has to ask itself what it prefers, a relationship with Colombia or a relationship with criminals”.

The Cuban government has been fundamental to the construction of peace in Colombia and the world. Thanks to the cooperation of this nation and the other guarantor and accompanying countries, the Havana Agreement was signed. Cuba provided the confidence in a process that was not easy, in which the parties to an armed conflict that had lasted more than 50 years were able to converse and reach agreements for the well-being of Colombians.

We insist on the need to resume the dialogues with the National Liberation Army and promote the submission to justice of the existing armed structures that wish to do so, in order to advance towards a complete peace.

We recall that the ELN peace delegation travelled to Cuba under the authorization of the Colombian State and under the protection of the guarantor and accompanying countries, just as the delegation of the former FARC-EP did at the time; therefore, the negotiators must be returned to the country under the conditions of the protocols signed by the parties.

It is not sensible to attack a country that defends peace and in addition to continue failing to comply with commitments made to thousands of people who are in the process of reincorporation; the government of Ivan Duque, an ally of imperialism, and the interventionist policies of Donald Trump, cannot continue to attack sovereign and autonomous nations, nor can it continue to torpedo the desires for peace at the international level.

As a political party born out of the Havana agreements, we express our solidarity with the Cuban government and call for dialogue between the two states in order to reach a consensus that does not affect the brotherly relationship between the two peoples.

NATIONAL POLITICAL COUNCIL

ALTERNATIVE REVOLUTIONARY FORCE OF COMMON-FARC

Bogotá, 29 September 2019