MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Russia welcomes the ceasefire deal between Colombian authorities and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) and believes this agreement is a decisive step toward a final peace treaty, the Russian Foreign Ministry said Friday.
"We consider the signing of this important document by Colombian President J.Santos and FARC leader T.Jimenez to be a decisive, historical step on the path to signing a final peace agreement in the near future, which will put an end to five decades of armed conflict," the ministry said in a statement.
Russia is ready to provide "any necessary assistance," including through the UN Security Council, the ministry said.
On Thursday, Colombia's government and the FARC group signed a ceasefire deal at an official ceremony held in Havana.
The latest effort to end the conflict in Colombia began with negotiations between the two parties in November 2012. Since then, the government and FARC have reached a number of agreements, including a plan to remove landmines, redistribute land to peasants as well as remove fighters under the age of 15 from jungle bases.
