OPENING REMARKS AT BRIEFING BY SECRETARY-GENERAL'S SPECIAL ADVISER ON COLOMBIA

OPENING REMARKS AT BRIEFING BY SECRETARY-GENERAL'S SPECIAL ADVISER ON COLOMBIA

"The Secretary-General of the United Nations, Kofi Annan, is deeply concerned by the deteriorating situation in Colombia," his Special Adviser on Colombia, Jan Egeland, told journalists at a press briefing in Bogota today.

"As his Special Adviser on Colombia, I consulted with him on Colombia during the last days," Mr. Egeland explained.  "In his name, I today appeal to all sides in the conflict to end the growing abuses against the civilian population and to make a renewed effort to negotiate in order to avoid an all-out war.

"The decisions made in the coming months may well determine whether Colombia can secure a viable road to reconciliation and development, or enters an extended period of debilitating conflict, economic decline, widespread human rights violations, and civilian suffering," he continued, "affecting not only Colombia, but also the Andean region as a whole.  The worsening situation we face in Colombia now demands a new awareness, as well as significantly increased, coordinated and long-term international attention and assistance."

Over the past three years, he said, the Government of President Andrés Pastrana had made a determined effort to press ahead in two difficult peace processes with the FARC and the ELN guerrillas.  "The President has paid a political price for his commitment to peace and for this he deserves respect,"

Mr. Egeland explained.  As in most peace processes, there had been setbacks and difficulties, but the main point should be to learn from mistakes, while seeking to push negotiations forward.

Times of crisis like these often brought frustration and calls for military measures, rather than dialogue, he said.  Nevertheless, those who criticized the search for peace should carefully consider the alternative.  "You cannot shoot your way to reconciliation," he added.

Colombia had a terrible legacy of violence, partly because it had repeatedly failed to face and to solve its profound social and political problems through negotiations, he continued.  The only way to put an end to this bitter, complex and deeply entrenched conflict was through a negotiated solution, irrespective of how difficult it may be to attain.  "The United Nations wishes to stress that the channels of communications across the battlefields should not be closed," said

Mr. Egeland, adding that "The enormous investment made in establishing peace talks should not be lost."

The Special Adviser to the Secretary General on Colombia said that since his appointment, he had established regular contact with all parties to the conflict involved in negotiations, as well as leading civil society actors and members of the international community concerned with Colombia. 

All his contacts had convinced him that seeking a negotiated end to the conflict should become a State policy in Colombia, no matter who was President. "As we enter a year of political campaigns and elections, it is especially important to avoid steps that may undermine long-term peace efforts," he explained. 

He said that Secretary-General Kofi Annan was committed to continue his long-term support for efforts to secure reconciliation and peace, and that, as his Special Adviser, Mr. Egeland would assist wherever possible.

Peace efforts had faced a threat from paramilitary forces which, with apparent impunity, massacred civilians, threatened those who support negotiations and carried out attacks specifically designed to undermine peace initiatives, he noted.  Various paramilitary bases were well known yet continued to operate.

He called for unequivocal national and international condemnation of paramilitary groups and those who funded and supported them, explaining that during its most recent session, the United Nations Commission on Human Rights had urged the Government to take more effective steps to combat and suppress paramilitary groups.

"The guerrillas are also responsible for violations of international humanitarian law," Mr. Egeland added.  "The United Nations and the wider international community strongly and universally condemn the industry built from the kidnapping and extortion of civilians."  In April, the Commission on Human Rights had called upon guerrillas to respect humanitarian law and to agree to a comprehensive human rights and humanitarian agreement to pave the way to a complete ceasefire.

After too long a period of neglect, he said, the international community had now started to pay increasing attention and offer a growing commitment to help Colombia and its people.  "In times of crisis such as these, the international community should be increasing its assistance to the most needy -– not freezing or reducing it."

At the same time, he said, it should be made clear that the international community was increasingly concerned by the violence that was forcing tens of thousands of Colombians from their homes and villages into a life of internal exile and fear as internally displaced people.  More people were being forced to flee every day.

"I believe the most pressing need at this time in Colombia is to renew efforts at dialogue and negotiation," said Mr. Egeland.  Therefore he urged the Government to undertake a well-organized negotiating effort, with the involvement of the international community.  He also asked the Government to take further measures to stop assassinations of human rights activists and trade unionists and to deal effectively with the paramilitaries.

He called on the FARC rebel movement to release the hundreds of civilians it had kidnapped, including the three German aid workers and Alan Jara.  "The international community holds the FARC responsible for their physical well-being and safe return," he warned.

Mr. Egeland also urged the Government and the ELN to renew good-faith efforts to negotiate, the ELN to refrain from kidnappings and attacks on civilians that did nothing to further the cause of social reform or of peace, and the paramilitaries to stop murdering women, children and unarmed civilians and forcing tens of thousands of innocent Colombians to flee from their homes.

"Finally," he said, "I urge the international community to fully commit itself to helping this country and its people.  The international community must maintain a consistent long-term engagement to ensure that all-out war and humanitarian disaster do not prevail.

"I have become convinced that despite the current crisis in dialogue, it is still possible to advance towards a real and lasting peace in Colombia," he said.  "I strongly feel we should resist the general tendency in national and international opinion to regard the constant violence and setbacks as a sign that Colombia is a ‘hopeless case’.  

Mr. Egeland said he believed it would take time, but peace and human rights could and would become a reality, if national and international efforts were coordinated and sustained.

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