President Danilo Medina is traveling to Havana, Cuba today, Thursday 23 June 2016, where he will attend the signing of the accord reached between the government of Colombia and the Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia (FARC). The agreement includes the announcement that the Colombian rebels will lay down their arms. The peace deal marks the end Latin America’s longest-running war.
Medina is attending the event as the temporary president of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC).
The agreement will be signed by the President of Colombia, Juan Manuel Santos, the FARC n EP commander, Timoleon Jimenez, and by the representatives of the guarantor countries, President Raul Castro of Cuba and Minister of Foreign Relations Borge Brende of Norway, according to a communique on the ceasefire agreement.
In representation of the accompanying countries, the President of Chile, Michelle Bachelet, and of Venezuela, President Nicolas Maduro, will also be present.
It was announced that United Nations Secretary General, Ban Ki-Moon will also present at the ceremony as a special guest, accompanied by the President of the Security Council and the President of the General Assembly.
President Medina is later expected in Panama on Sunday 26 June 2016 for the inauguration of the Panama Canal expansion.
Read the official statement on the ceasefire issued on 22 June 2016.
