Colombia's FARC rebels say 30% of arms handed in to UNJune 8, 2017 - 10:37 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Colombia's Marxist FARC rebels on Wednesday, June 7 said they have handed over 30 percent of their weapons to UN officials as part of a deal to end a half-century of war, AFP reports. "Thirty percent of our arms have been put in the hands of UN monitors" of the peace process "and stored in containers," said FARC leader Rodrigo Londono, better known by his alias "Timochenko." "This is the beginning of the end of our demobilizing," he added in a speech in the northern town of Cano Indio. The weapons are to be stored at 26 points around the South American country. The next 30 percent are to be stored for good on June 14 and the last 40 percent on June 20. The government and the FARC -- formally known as the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, the country's biggest rebel group -- reached a deal last year after four years of negotiations in the Cuban capital. Colombian voters rejected it by a narrow margin in a referendum in October. President Juan Manuel Santos and FARC leaders then drafted a new version before the government pushed it through Congress. The Colombian conflict erupted in 1964, when the FARC and the ELN -- a smaller rebel group -- took up arms for rural land rights. The violence drew in various rebel and paramilitary forces and drug gangs as well as state forces. The conflict has left at least 260,000 people dead and displaced more than seven million, according to the authorities. Related links: Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Partner news | Kazakhstan welcomes Yerevan, Baku’s agreement to meet in Almaty Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has welcomed the agreement of Baku and Yerevan to hold negotiations in Almaty. Armenia offers to temporarily host, preserve Gaza manuscripts The Armenian Foreign Minister has said Yerevan is ready to help preserve manuscripts from the conflict zone in Gaza. Aliyev says no need for mediators in Armenia-Azerbaijan process Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev believes that Baku and Yerevan do not mediators in the process of normalizing relations. Aram I supports Karekin II’s “patriotic position” Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia Aram I has expressed support for the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. |