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Government, UN and FARC rebels discuss resettlement

Reporter: Michelle Begue 丨 CCTV.com

08-16-2016 20:22 BJT

The Colombian government, the United Nations, and representatives from rebel group FARC have discussed resettlement plans for the guerillas following the signing of a peace deal. The move is a critical moment in the peace process between the administration and the leftist group.

A helicopter from the Colombian Armed Forces took delegates from the United Nations, Colombian government and FARC rebel group to the Colombian rural town of Villavicencio. 

This is their first visit to one of the nearly two-dozen designated areas across Colombia where guerilla members of the leftist rebel group will surrender their weapons.

"We have to look at the geographical features to see if they correspond or not, to ensure that the size complies so that the United Nations can start the three-party verification process," said Sergio Jaramillo, Colombian High Commissioner for Peace.

In June, the Colombian government and FARC announced they had finished negotiating the terms for a bilateral ceasefire. The rebels agreed to lay down their weapons within a week of the signing of a final peace deal and to a full disarmament 180 days after that. 

Under the agreement, the guerilla group will demobilize into 23 temporary transition zones and eight camp sites. The ceasefire will start when a final deal is reached but for all intents and purposes, both sides have stopped fighting.

"What we have said is that while the agreement is not in force undoubtedly, it would not be possible to start the relocation process," said Carlos Antonio Lozada, FARC-EP commander.

While negotiators work on the details of an official agreement in Havana, Colombia is preparing the precise location of the temporary zones. 

The Red Cross is part of the international observer committee, but Colombian officials say logistical consultations with locals are just as important.

"The groups were divided into two. The first one met with the community leaders to explain the scope of this visit and the second composed of officers of the public force, FARC-EP commanders of different areas, engineers, surveyors, logistic and communications experts, to review the places where the zones will be located," said Marcela Duran, Colombian Government Spokesperson. 

The visits to the transition sites will continue in the coming days and a report will be compiled by the end of next week and presented to the United Nations Security Council - The UN will be in charge of sending observers to monitor the disarmament.

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