Raul Castro in Cartagena de Indias to Attend Peace Final Agreement

Yesterday, September 25, Army General Raúl Castro Ruz, president of the Councils of State and Ministers arrived in Cartagena de Indias to attend the signing of the final agreement between the government of Colombia and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia- People’s Army (FARC-EP) to end the armed conflict and construct a stable, lasting peace in the country.

At the Rafael Núñez Airport, the Cuban head of state was greeted by Deputy Foreign Minister Patricia Londoño, who said she was honored to welcome Raúl and expressed “infinite gratitude to Cuba for all its efforts, for having hosted the negotiations and talks over the last few years.”

The Cuban delegation also included Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla; Eusebio Leal Spengler, Havana City historian; and José Luis Ponce Caraballo, ambassador in Colombia; as well as a number of officials from the Ministry, many of whom played important roles fulfilling Cuba’s responsibility as a guarantor of the talks.

Scheduled midday, according to the Foreign Ministry, is a religious ceremony requested by Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos at San Pedro Claver Cathedral, in the city’s central historic district.

Later during the afternoon the Peace Accords signing ceremony will take place on San Francisco esplanade, at the Cartegena Convention Center, with some 16 heads of state expected to attend, along with representatives from a number of regional and international organizations.