President confirmed that talks will happen
Colombian President, Juan Manuel Santos, confirmed on Tuesday that the National Government and Farc signed an agreement that defines the road map for initiating a dialogue aimed at finding a solution and ending the armed conflict in Colombia once and for all.
Santos confirmed that ‘exploratory meetings’ went on for six months in Havana, Cuba, and resulted in the document; he explained that this is not a final draft but simply outlines the steps to be taken.
The document, titled “General Agreement for the End of the Conflict”, has five primary issues to be discussed which are: rural development to guarantee access to lands; political participation and guarantees for the opposition; end of the armed conflict; drug trafficking and victims’ rights. In his address to the nation, Santos said this is a real opportunity and that the document has goals, an agenda and clear ground rules. “It’s a serious and worthy process, realistic, it’s effective.”
He did add, however, that the agreement includes conditions that are considered necessary and warned that negotiations have a time limit, “It will take months, not years.”
“If there is no progress, we simply will not continue,” Santos said, as he explained that the duration of the talks will be measured according to evaluations done every so often.
Talks will begin in Oslo, Norway some time in early October and continue in Cuba.
