UNITED NATIONS, Rabi'II 11, 1437, January 21, 2016, SPA -- U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon welcomes a request by the Colombian government and its largest rebel group for the world body to monitor and verify a future ceasefire that could end Latin America's longest-running conflict, a spokesperson said Wednesday. Farhan Haq said in a statement that Ban also welcomes their request to members of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) to contribute international observers to the mission to be established by the U.N. Security Council. The U.N. chief congratulated the government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) "on yet another significant step toward the peaceful resolution of the armed conflict." Negotiators for the two sides announced the request for a 12-month U.N. mission Tuesday at peace talks in Cuba. --SPA 12:02 LOCAL TIME 09:02 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/w