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French President Hollande visits Colombia rebels | French President Hollande visits Colombia rebels |
(about 5 hours later) | |
French President Francois Hollande has met leaders of Colombia's largest rebel movement, the FARC, at a rural camp in the west of the country. | French President Francois Hollande has met leaders of Colombia's largest rebel movement, the FARC, at a rural camp in the west of the country. |
Mr Hollande - accompanied by Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos - offered help with de-mining programmes and the search for the disappeared. | Mr Hollande - accompanied by Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos - offered help with de-mining programmes and the search for the disappeared. |
France has contributed around 20% of the EU's funding to support Colombia's peace process. | France has contributed around 20% of the EU's funding to support Colombia's peace process. |
Colombia signed a peace accord last November to end decades of conflict. | Colombia signed a peace accord last November to end decades of conflict. |
President Hollande was the first French head of state to visit Colombia in almost 30 years. | |
He expressed his support for the peace deal, calling it a model to resolve conflicts around the world. | He expressed his support for the peace deal, calling it a model to resolve conflicts around the world. |
"The disarming and demobilisation is not reversible," he said at the camp in Caldono, in the department of Cauca. | "The disarming and demobilisation is not reversible," he said at the camp in Caldono, in the department of Cauca. |
There he met the head of the United Nations observation mission in Colombia, Jean Arnauld, and a FARC leader, Pablo Catatumbo, who stressed the importance of having international support. | There he met the head of the United Nations observation mission in Colombia, Jean Arnauld, and a FARC leader, Pablo Catatumbo, who stressed the importance of having international support. |
"President Francois Hollande's visit is of great importance," Mr Catatumbo said. | "President Francois Hollande's visit is of great importance," Mr Catatumbo said. |
"Having the commitment of the fifth power in the world, and its contribution to peace [in Colombia] is of great importance. | "Having the commitment of the fifth power in the world, and its contribution to peace [in Colombia] is of great importance. |
"The fact that France is accompanying and supporting the peace process is the most important backing that we have received since we signed the peace deal." | "The fact that France is accompanying and supporting the peace process is the most important backing that we have received since we signed the peace deal." |
Mr Hollande is on a Latin American tour to Chile and Colombia - one of his last foreign trips before stepping down after April-May elections which will choose his successor. | Mr Hollande is on a Latin American tour to Chile and Colombia - one of his last foreign trips before stepping down after April-May elections which will choose his successor. |
More than 350 United Nations observers from several Latin American nations are spread out at 26 different camps across Colombia preparing for the FARC's demobilisation. | More than 350 United Nations observers from several Latin American nations are spread out at 26 different camps across Colombia preparing for the FARC's demobilisation. |
Around 5,700 members of the FARC will begin disarming over a period of six months under UN supervision, before reintegrating into society. | Around 5,700 members of the FARC will begin disarming over a period of six months under UN supervision, before reintegrating into society. |
Former President, Alvaro Uribe, who is a critic of the peace process, accused Mr Hollande of "supporting the impunity of terrorists" by meeting with the FARC. | Former President, Alvaro Uribe, who is a critic of the peace process, accused Mr Hollande of "supporting the impunity of terrorists" by meeting with the FARC. |
In an open letter earlier this week, Mr Uribe said: "Many of us feel rejection toward the successor of Napoleon and De Gaulle for his visit to the FARC." | In an open letter earlier this week, Mr Uribe said: "Many of us feel rejection toward the successor of Napoleon and De Gaulle for his visit to the FARC." |