Cartagena: A new era of peace begins
President Raúl Castro in Colombia to attend signing of final agreement to end armed conflict
Author: Yaima Puig Meneses | internet@granma.cu
september 26, 2016 09:09:31

CARTAGENA DE INDIAS, Colombia.- Shortly after noon, yesterday, September 25, Army General Raúl Castro Ruz, President of the Councils of State and Ministers arrived here, to attend the signing of the final agreement between the government of Colombia and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia- People’s Army (FARC-EP) to end the armed conflict and construct a stable, lasting peace in the country. At the Rafael Núñez Airport, Cuba’s head of state was greeted by Deputy Foreign Minister Patricia Londoño, who said she was honored to welcome Raúl and expressed “infinite gratitude to Cuba for all its efforts, for having hosted the negotiations and talks over the last few years.” The Cuban delegation also included Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla; Eusebio Leal Spengler, Havana City Historian; and José Luis Ponce Caraballo, ambassador in Colombia; as well as a number of officials from the Ministry, many of whom played important roles fulfilling Cuba’s responsibility as a guarantor of the talks.

Scheduled midday, according to the Foreign Ministry, is a religious ceremony requested by Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos at San Pedro Claver Cathedral, in the city’s central historic district.
Later during the afternoon the Peace Accords signing ceremony will take place on San Francisco esplanade, at the Cartegena Convention Center, with some 16 heads of state expected to attend, along with representatives from a number of regional and international organizations