Havana, August 3 (RHC)-- Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel celebrated the entry into force on Thursday of the bilateral, national and temporary ceasefire agreed in Havana between the Colombian government and the insurgent National Liberation Army (ELN).

Expressing that his country is hopeful about this stage leading to the definitive cessation of hostilities, the Antillean leader ratified on Twitter Cuba's commitment to peace in the South American nation.

In another message, Díaz-Canel indicated that he accompanies, in his capacity as guarantor, the important step taken today in Bogota, as part of the progress of the talks process between the parties in conflict.

Earlier, on the same social network, Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez expressed satisfaction because the First and Second Cuba Agreements between the Government of Colombia and the ELN are materialized with the installation of the National Participation Committee and the beginning of the ceasefire.

Rodriguez recalled that for this last agreement, an integrated monitoring mechanism will be established in Colombia in which, in addition to the participation of representatives of the government and the guerrilla, the United Nations Verification Mission will also participate.

The day before, the UN Security Council approved the extension of its mandate and stated that "the Verification Mission will monitor and verify the implementation of the ceasefire established in the Second Cuba Agreement between the Government of Colombia and the ELN.

The international body authorized an increase of up to 68 additional international observers to the Mission's current strength.

On June 9, representatives of the Colombian Government and the belligerent ELN signed the so-called Cuba Accords during the third round of peace talks in Havana.