Colombians celebrate signing of peace agreement

World Today

Colombians will head to the polls Sunday to vote on a peace deal to end more than 50 years of war between their government and FARC rebels. Across the country Monday residents celebrated the historical signing.

Colombians will head to the polls Sunday to vote on a peace deal to end more than 50 years of war between their government and FARC rebels. Across the country Monday residents celebrated the historical signing.

CCTV’s Michelle Begue reports the story

The chant, “No More War” was shouted by the 2,500 men and women witnessing a historic moment for Colombia, the signing of a peace accord to end 50 years of armed conflict.

In front of 15 Latin American presidents and other distinguished guests such as UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon, President Juan Manuel Santos welcomed the FARC guerrilla group into Colombia’s democracy.

“As Chief of Government of this nation that we all love, I give you the welcome to Democracy,” Juan Manuel Santos, Colombia’s president, said.

The ceremony took place on Monday in the coastal city of Cartagena. The FARC leader known as alias Timochenko said in his speech that the armed group would not give up its left winged ideals but would pursue them without arms. He also paid tribute to the more than 6 million victims of the armed conflict.

“In the name of the FARC I offer my apologies to all of the victims of the conflict and for all the suffering that we may have caused in this war,” Timochenko said.

In Bogotá citizens celebrated the live transmission of the signing.

The thousands present chanted “Yes we did it”, when they saw the government and FARC–two long time enemies–shake hands.

After four years of peace negotiations it seems like the accord will have one more challenge. On October 2nd the Colombian people will go out to vote, in order to ratify it.