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News Releases
Benita Ferrero-Waldner
No. 129/05
December 22, 2005
COLOMBIA: EUROPEAN COMMISSION RELEASES €1.5 MILLION TO SUPPORT PEACE AND RECONCILIATION
The European Commission will provide €1.5 million under
its
Rapid Reaction Mechanism to follow-up on the
3
October 2005 Council Conclusions on Colombia. After the
July 2005 enactment of the Justice and Peace Law, the EU
Council confirmed the “readiness of the EU and its
Member States to assist the Colombian government and
civil society in providing support for communities
affected by the internal conflict, victims groups, local
reconciliation activities and reinsertion and
demobilization of child soldiers." The European
Commission will now support a number of measures to
facilitate an effective and transparent implementation
of the law and so contribute towards the consolidation
of lasting prospects for peace.
Benita Ferrero-Waldner, Commissioner for
External
Relations and
European Neighborhood Policy, said:
“With
this package, we intend to help Colombia provide support
for vulnerable groups and reconciliation activities. EU
actions will range from awareness raising, legal advice
to victims and support to the affected communities, part
of a robust, longer-term program for Peace and
Development in Colombia.”
The coming months will be critical to achieving
sustainable peace in
Colombia. The EU support can
contribute significantly to an effective Disarmament,
Demobilization and Reinsertion (DDR) process that
respects human rights and international humanitarian law
and that takes into account the right of victims to
truth, justice and reparation. The objectives of the
assistance package, to be implemented through a number
of partners such as local and international NGOs and
international organizations, include:
-
Victims' awareness-raising; legal advice and support to
victims and victims’ groups wishing to bring to justice
their cases under the current legal framework.
-
Formulation of a strategy for communities receiving
demobilized combatants.
-
Support for the design of a comprehensive national
reconciliation strategy.
Background
Colombia has been ravaged by a decades-long violent
conflict, involving guerilla insurgencies (FARC-ELN),
the State military and police forces, paramilitaries (AUC)
and drug cartels whose actions have resulted in serious
violations of human rights and international
humanitarian law. Following a ceasefire declaration and
peace talks between the AUC and the Government, the AUC
promised to lay down their weapons by end of 2005.
However, the international community has made its
support conditional to the demobilization of AUC
combatants and the adoption of an appropriate
legislative framework, respecting international
humanitarian and human rights laws and guaranteeing
truth, justice and reparation for victims.
On 25 July 2005, the “Justice and Peace law” (Law 975)
was adopted, adding a new element to the already
existing legal framework that addresses demobilization
and reinsertion of illegal armed groups.
On 3 October 2005, the EU Council adopted Council
conclusions stating that “if the new law is effectively
and transparently implemented it would make a positive
contribution to the search of peace in Colombia.” The
Council stressed the readiness of the EU and its Member
States to provide assistance to Colombia in supporting
communities affected by the internal conflict, victims’
groups, local reconciliation activities and
demobilization of child soldiers.
EU cooperation towards Colombia between 2001 and 2006
amounts to €270 million of non-reimbursable aid.
EU aid is fostering peace and development as a way to
pursue EU’s engagement to contribute to the search for a
peaceful solution to the Colombian conflict.
Further Contact Information
Press and Media Relations
Delegation of the European Commission
2300 M Street, NW
Washington, DC 20037
http://www.eurunion.org/PressRoom
Tel: 202-862-9552
Fax: 202-429-1766
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