During the evening of Tuesday 5 September, the spokesperson for the European External Action Service (EEAS) hailed the announcement of a ceasefire between the Colombian government and the Ejercito de Liberacion Nacional (ELN), and welcomed the specific commitments made by both parties.
The EEAS spokesperson said in a press release that the announcement of the ceasefire "is a significant step forward in the Colombian peace process and towards the end of conflict".
"We strongly encourage the parties to intensify efforts to put in place the necessary protocols for the ceasefire, so that it can take effect as soon as possible", the spokesperson added, also expressing hope that the government and ELN will reach agreement on a final peace accord "to ensure a stable and lasting peace in Colombia".
The ceasefire agreement, which was obtained during talks in Quito, Ecuador will enter into force for 100 days on 1 October and is renewable, according to Colombia's President Juan Manuel Santos.
Stating that the EU has repeatedly denounced the ELN's use of kidnapping, violence, attacks on civilian infrastructure, the recruitment of minors and the use of anti-personnel mines, the EEAS spokesperson expressed "firm" hope that the ceasefire will put an end to these actions and ensure respect for human rights and humanitarian law.
The Colombian government had already signed a peace agreement with another paramilitary group, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), back in November 2016. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)