UNITED NATIONS, Oct. 5 (Xinhua) -- The UN Security Council on Thursday adopted a resolution to expand the mandate of the Verification Mission in Colombia to enable it to monitor a temporary cease-fire agreement between the Colombian government and the National Liberation Army (ELN).
In an unanimous vote, the 15-member council adopted Resolution 2381, which authorizes the deployment of additional international observers to monitor the cease-fire in addition to its original task of overseeing a peace deal between the Colombian government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), the country's largest rebel group.
The Security Council in July approved the establishment of the Verification Mission in Colombia to verify the political, economic and social reintegration of former FARC combatants as well as security guarantees. On Sept. 14, it further approved the recommendations of UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres concerning the size, operational aspects and mandate of the mission, including the deployment of 120 unarmed, non-uniformed international observers. The mission started operations on Sept. 26.
Thursday's Security Council resolution expands its mandate to include the peace process with the ELN, with which the Colombian government agreed on a cease-fire last month. The temporary cease-fire entered into force on Sunday.
