Colombian Interior Minister, Juan Fernando Cristo, has confirmed that the peace process is going at a good pace and that 2015 can be the year when the way towards ending the conflict in Colombia is cleared.
In a message released this weekend by his Twitter account, he commented that by the half end of this month talks will be resumed with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia-People’s Army (FARC-EP) in Havana
Cristo said the country should have full confidence that President Juan Manuel Santos and the Government are working hard to make 2015 be the year in which the road to peace, especially with the FARC-EP is cleared.
“We hope this is the year of peace, reconciliation and coexistence for all Colombians”, he said, while he expressed his wish that after five decades of armed conflict there will be an end to confrontations that have brought so much pain and victims to the country.
The Minister’s statements coincide with the start in Cartagena de Indias of a series of consultations for the New Year prompted by Santos with his negotiating team, which is in talks with FARC-EP in Cuba and while listening to the views of other foreign experts. After more than two years of talks, the parties reached agreements that so far cover comprehensive rural reform, political participation and illicit drugs.
In the pending agenda there remain issues considered crucial like transitional justice, end of confrontation, disarmament, demobilization and reintegration of guerrilla men into society.
The Colombian conflict of more than half a century has caused so far 6.8 million casualties, including 230,000 deaths, entire peoples and populations displaced, tortured, kidnapped and missing. (PL)