Colombians celebrate 'special' national day in Turkey

By Satuk Bugra Kutlugun

ANKARA (AA) - Colombia’s ambassador to Turkey has told Anadolu Agency his country’s Independence Day celebrations were particularly special this year because of a new peace deal in the South American country.

Speaking at an evening reception in Ankara on Wednesday, Juan Alfredo Pinto Saavedra highlighted Colombia's democracy, freedom of expression and of religion, plus the well-being of its citizens.

“The latter, the most appreciated of all rights, only exists if there is peace, if the horrible night of war ceases to exist," the envoy said.

"For this reason, this year, our commemoration is very special because we are celebrating the peace agreements between the Colombian state and the guerrillas of FARC."

A final cache of weapons belonging to the Marxist rebels were handed over to the UN on June 27 in a symbolic ceremony attended by President Juan Manuel Santos and rebel commander-in-chief Rodrigo Timoleon Londono Echeverri.

The rebel group had been locked in a damaging internal conflict with the Colombian state since 1964. More than 260,000 people were killed and seven million displaced.

Saavedra also stressed the "deep friendship" between Colombia and Turkey.

"I would like to take this opportunity to thank Turkey for its sincere and generous support to our peace process," he said.

"Turkey donated an educational center in the rural region of El Orejon, where the army and demobilized guerrillas collaborated to remove landmines, allowing children to return to their schools."

Colombia's national day celebrations fall between July 20 -- the day in 1810 when people in Bogota proclaimed independence from Spanish rule -- until Aug. 7, the day they won the Battle of Boyaca in 1819.