UN chief offers 'good offices' support in Colombia-Venezuela border dispute
| Publisher | UN News Service |
| Publication Date | 11 September 2015 |
| Cite as | UN News Service, UN chief offers 'good offices' support in Colombia-Venezuela border dispute, 11 September 2015, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/55f68f6f4.html [accessed 19 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has conveyed to the Foreign Ministers of Colombia and Venezuela that he "trusted" their countries would address the border challenges they faced through constructive dialogue, and offered his "good offices" mediation services if both parties so requested.
Mr. Ban met today at UN Headquarters with Delcy Rodríguez, Foreign Minister of Venezuela. This followed his meeting with Maria Ángela Holguín, Foreign Minister of Colombia, on 8 September.
During the meetings, the UN chief took note of the Foreign Ministers' views regarding the situation along the Colombia-Venezuela border and conveyed that he is following the situation with concern.
"The Secretary-General conveyed to the two Foreign Ministers that he trusted both countries would address border challenges through constructive dialogue," UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric told reporters. "He offered his good offices if both countries so requested."
The good offices and mediation roles of the Secretary-General in the prevention and the peaceful settlement of disputes derive from the UN Charter and have been developed through extensive practice. These roles can be set in motion at the Secretary-General's own initiative, in response to a request from one or more of the parties to a dispute, or as a result of a request from the Security Council or the General Assembly.
