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HAVANA, June 23 (Xinhua) -- Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro said here Thursday the ceasefire agreement between the government of Colombia and the leftist FARC guerrilla is a major step toward ending a civil war that has lasted over half a century .
"The desire to achieve a lasting peace in Colombia is finally coming true and we cannot let that desire be spoiled. The agreement brings a lot of hope to Latin America," Maduro told Xinhua minutes after witnessing the signing ceremony in Havana.
The Venezuelan leader congratulated Colombian President, Juan Manuel Santos, and FARC leader, Timoleon Jimenez, saying Venezuela would continue to support the peace process until the agreement is implemented.
Maduro said the "serious" negotiations, which lasted for almost four years in Havana led to consensus on thorny issues such as political participation, retribution for victims of the civil war, disarmament and land distribution.
"We will soon be celebrating the disarmament of the FARC rebels. All their members will become a political force in Colombia," he said.
He also hailed that the work of former Venezuelan president, Hugo Chavez who began talks with Santos to initiate a peace process with the FARC guerrilla group. This led to the start of negotiations in Havana a few months before his death in 2013.
Maduro added that his administration, and other Latin American governments, are also helping Santos to begin peace talks with another important rebel group, the National Liberation Army (ELN)
"We are helping to get the talks with the ELN underway. Hopefully, that group will also soon sign agreements with the Colombian government to end the armed conflict," he said.
"Today has been a day of victory for Colombia, for Venezuela and Latin America."
UN chief Ban Ki-moon and several Latin American leaders also took part in the signing ceremony.
According to the agreement read out by mediators from Norway and Cuba, the FARC will lay down their arms within 180 days after the final deal is signed and demobilize into 23 temporary zones and eight camps across Colombia.
During their transition to become a political organization, the FARC's weapons will be handed over to the UN, which will begin a mission to verify the ceasefire.
Colombia's conflict has killed more than 220,000 people and displaced millions since 1964.
