Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Bogota (Agenzia Fides) - The 22nd session of peace talks between the Colombian government and FARC representatives (Colombian Revolutionary Armed Forces) ended yesterday in Havana. The chief negotiator on behalf of the government, Humberto De la Calle, asked yesterday, March 30, all the candidates of the presidential campaign to "read" and "study" documents on the agreements reached so far, in order to provide a "well-informed debate" on the peace process.
According to the observations sent to Fides by a local source, De la Calle wanted to highlight this aspect because there are now "two reports that contain the most important points of the agreement" for "the development of global agriculture" and "political participation".
At the beginning of the talks that ended yesterday, the FARC had talked about the "need to create a commission with the aim of determining the origin and the truth of the history of internal conflict in Colombia". De la Calle said that the Commission should be created "at the end, after having stipulated an agreement for the resolution of the conflict, in which the agreements are to appear on the six items on the agenda". He added that "the government sees truth as a real tool for real peace, and not as a tactical tool for negotiations".
While the various parties prepare themselves for the presidential elections in Colombia on May 25, social groups and the Catholic Church are optimistic about the creation of the "National Council of Peace" announced last week by President Santos.
The organization aims at the final signing of the peace agreements, even after the election, regardless of the winner.
The discussions that take place in Cuba will resume Friday, April 4, and the next point at issue concerns the problem of drugs in the country. (CE) (Agenzia Fides 31/03/2014)
