“At a time when the world is beset with insecurity, violent conflict and a number of humanitarian crises, Colombia’s peace agreement is a bright spot in 2016. The peace process inspires us to believe that peace is possible, even after more than 50 years of armed conflict,” said Olemic Thommessen, the President of the Storting.

See photos from the visit on Flickr. The pictures may be used freely if credited. 

Now, to build the peace

On Sunday morning, the Peace Prize laureate was welcomed to the Storting. On the agenda were meetings with the President of the Storting and with the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence.

“Discussing the difficult work that went into reaching a peace deal was very interesting, in particular the way Colombia has been able to include all the affected players in the process,” said Mr Thommessen. “We also discussed the conditions that sustain democracy. The new peace agreement is an important foundation. Building on the agreement, Colombia will now set about forging a durable peace in the country. This will require trust and participation, which are essential for all democracies.”

Before a full complement of press representatives in the Eidsvoll Gallery, the President of the Storting congratulated President Santos on behalf of the Storting.

“This year’s Peace Prize is a well-deserved recognition of Santos’s noteworthy effort, and of the Colombian people’s struggle for peace. The peace agreement is a historic achievement and I hope it will be an inspiration for future peace processes all over the world,” said Mr Thommessen.

Warm reunion

At the Storting, Santos also met with the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence in a warm reunion after a meeting in September, when the committee visited Bogota.

When they last met, the peace agreement had only just been signed and Colombia was awaiting the referendum, which was held on 2 October. However, the referendum failed to deliver majority backing for the peace deal, and the agreement had to be renegotiated. The resulting changes were discussed in detail at Sunday’s meeting at the Storting.

“We are impressed by the fact that the parties in the conflict, over the course of a few brief autumn months, have been able to put in place a new peace agreement. They have listened closely to the input that was provided in connection with the referendum,” said Anniken Huitfeldt (Labour Party), the chair of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence.

“Norway has actively supported the peace process and will continue to give support to Colombia, among other things through mine clearing. Today our countries are closer than they have ever been before, and we have a mutual wish to further develop this cooperation,” Ms Huitfeldt emphasised.

The Peace Prize laureate’s visit to Oslo will be rounded off with the Nobel Peace Prize Concert on Sunday evening.