I express my congratulations to President Juan Manuel Santos, President of Colombia, on winning the Nobel Peace Prize.

President Santos exercised great leadership in order to end an internal conflict lasting over half a century, and I extend my deepest appreciation for his tenacious engagement with the difficult challenge of reaching peace with the guerrillas.

The peace agreement is a ray of hope toward ending the last armed conflict of the Americas. I expect this agreement will serve as an opportunity to transform confrontation and violence into reconciliation and peace, and build a bright future and prosperity for Colombia.

Japan has consistently supported the peace process thus far. Japan will also cooperate with Colombia’s nation-building in the future, through support relating to mine-clearing and rehabilitating victims of the conflict.