SIPRI warmly congratulates Colombian president Juan Manuel Santos on being awarded the 2016 Nobel Peace Prize.
'The peace accord was indeed a major achievement and, although the referendum was a setback, hopefully this award will help peacebuilders maintain the momentum needed to keep the process moving forward,' says SIPRI Director Dan Smith.
'It is important to remember that it takes at least two parties to end a war. As such, I would also like to congratulate the representatives of the FARC and the numerous civil society actors who put their trust and effort in peace.'
The peace agreement, negotiated by Colombian President Santos and FARC leader Rodrigo Londoño, would end a 50-year conflict in Colombia. The conflict, which is the oldest ongoing conflict in the Americas, has cost the lives of at least 220,000 Colombians and displaced close to six million people.
For media and interview requests, please contact Kate Sullivan (sullivan@sipri.org, +46 762 48 1355) or Harri Thomas (harri.thomas@sipri.org, +46 722 03 5830).