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UNITED NATIONS, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- The UN Security Council on Tuesday sent a letter to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon giving the green light to the UN Mission in Colombia to verify the ceasefire and cessation of hostilities in the South American country, UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric told reporters here.
"This was following a request from the Colombian government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia-People's Army (FARC-EP)," Dujarric said at a daily news briefing here.
"The UN Mission will roll out functions previously approved by the Council, except those related to the laying down of arms, which will be postponed until the successful conclusion of the political dialogue and the adoption of a new Final Agreement," he said.
The head of the UN Mission, Jean Arnault, welcomed the Security Council's support, stressing that it is a boost to Colombia's peace process.
The Colombian government signed a historic peace deal with the FARC on Sept. 26 to end the conflict, which lasted more than 50 years, but in a shock move, voters rejected the deal in a referendum.
The 52-year conflict in Colombia has left 220,000 people dead, 25,000 missing and more than 5.7 million homeless in the country.
