This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-37469149

The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 2 Version 3
Colombia's President Santos says peace with Farc will boost growth Colombia's President Santos says Farc deal must rebuild country
(35 minutes later)
Colombia's President Juan Manuel Santos says the peace deal with the Farc rebel group will boost economic growth and will enable the country to rebuild its social fabric. Colombia's President Juan Manuel Santos says peace with the Farc rebel group will boost economic growth and enable the country to rebuild its social fabric.
"War is always more costly than peace," he said in an interview with the BBC."War is always more costly than peace," he said in an interview with the BBC.
Mr Santos and Farc leader Timoleon Jimenez, known as Timochenko, will sign a historic peace deal later on Monday.Mr Santos and Farc leader Timoleon Jimenez, known as Timochenko, will sign a historic peace deal later on Monday.
But it will take a long time for Colombian society to recover from more than five decades of conflict, he said.But it will take a long time for Colombian society to recover from more than five decades of conflict, he said.
"We could have grown between 2% and 3% more per year for the past 23 years," said Mr Santos. The Farc will be relaunched as a political party as part of the deal, which is due to be put to Colombian voters in a popular vote on 2 October.
The conflict has also had a profound impact on Colombian society, Mr Santos told the BBC's Lyse Doucet. "We could have grown between 2% and 3% more per year for the past 23 years," Mr Santos told the BBC's Lyse Doucet, adding that the conflict had also had a profound impact on Colombian society.
"We have even lost our compassion, which is the ability to feel some kind of pain for others."We have even lost our compassion, which is the ability to feel some kind of pain for others.
"A country at war for 50 years is a country that has destroyed many of its values," said President Santos."A country at war for 50 years is a country that has destroyed many of its values," said President Santos.
Who are the Farc?Who are the Farc?
The guerrilla leader who talks peaceThe guerrilla leader who talks peace
Analysis: BBC chief international correspondent Lyse DoucetAnalysis: BBC chief international correspondent Lyse Doucet
Colombia's peace deal makes history in many ways, most of all for ending the last of the Cold War conflicts. But it also breaks new ground in trying to balance the desire for peace with the demands of justice which bedevil all peace talks.Colombia's peace deal makes history in many ways, most of all for ending the last of the Cold War conflicts. But it also breaks new ground in trying to balance the desire for peace with the demands of justice which bedevil all peace talks.
There's no amnesty, unlike all previous peace accords in the region. Farc, as well as Colombia's security forces, have accepted special tribunals and a truth and reconciliation process. There's no amnesty, unlike all previous peace accords in the region. The Farc, as well as Colombia's security forces, have accepted special tribunals and a truth and reconciliation process.
Many of the victims of Farc's brutality have been brought into the process. If polls are to be believed, a majority will vote to accept this deal. But I kept meeting people in Bogota and Cartagena who said they'll vote no. Many of the victims of the Farc's brutality have been brought into the process. If polls are to be believed, a majority will vote to accept this deal. But I kept meeting people in Bogota and Cartagena who said they'll vote no.
Fifty years of war also means decades of hatred and mistrust. Many doubt Farc will give up all its lucrative criminal activities. Will this deal also make history in being a peace deal which doesn't fall apart? Fifty years of war also means decades of hatred and mistrust. Many doubt that the Farc will give up all its lucrative criminal activities. Will this deal also make history in being a peace deal which doesn't fall apart?
'Victory for everybody''Victory for everybody'
The peace agreement was sealed after nearly four years of talks, which were held in the Cuban capital, Havana.The peace agreement was sealed after nearly four years of talks, which were held in the Cuban capital, Havana.
"The signature of the deal is simply the end of the conflict. Then the hard work starts: reconstructing our country," he said."The signature of the deal is simply the end of the conflict. Then the hard work starts: reconstructing our country," he said.
Senior members of Farc (Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia) voted unanimously to ratify the deal on the last day of their conference on Friday. Senior members of the Farc (Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia) voted unanimously to ratify the deal on the last day of their conference on Friday.
But the peace accord will only be implemented if approved by a majority of Colombian voters in a referendum to be held on Sunday.
Mr Santos said he was "very, very confident" that most Colombians would vote in favour of the deal.Mr Santos said he was "very, very confident" that most Colombians would vote in favour of the deal.
"The latest polls say that between 65% and 70% of the people approve of the peace process," he said"The latest polls say that between 65% and 70% of the people approve of the peace process," he said
"Peace is the victory for everybody.""Peace is the victory for everybody."
The Colombian president said that if the agreement was to be rejected in the referendum, the conflict would start again. The Colombian president said that if the agreement was to be rejected in the popular vote, the conflict would start again.
"We will go back six years and continue the war with the Farc. That's plan B," he said."We will go back six years and continue the war with the Farc. That's plan B," he said.
What's in the deal?
The Farc now has 180 days to disarm and move its estimated 7,500 fighters into disarmament zones set up by the UN.
An amnesty will be granted for "political crimes" but this does not cover massacres, torture or rape.
The Farc has already agreed to stop drug production in areas under its control and the government has pledged to help farmers earn a living without growing illicit crops.
The Farc will become a political party, allocated 10 seats in the 268-member Congress.
Both sides have pledged to provide land, loans and basic services to impoverished rural areas.
Colombia's second largest rebel group, the ELN (National Liberation Army), announced on Sunday a unilateral ceasefire until the referendum.Colombia's second largest rebel group, the ELN (National Liberation Army), announced on Sunday a unilateral ceasefire until the referendum.
ELN leaders have publicly expressed their wish to engage in their own peace process with the Colombian government.ELN leaders have publicly expressed their wish to engage in their own peace process with the Colombian government.
'Nobody likes the Farc'
Mr Santos said the deal with the Farc was fair and that it made those who committed war crimes accountable.Mr Santos said the deal with the Farc was fair and that it made those who committed war crimes accountable.
The rebels have agreed to lay down their weapons and the process that will be verified by the United Nations. The rebels have agreed to lay down their weapons in a process that will be verified by the United Nations.
"Maybe some of them will hide some guns. That's a natural thing that happens in these peace processes," he said."Maybe some of them will hide some guns. That's a natural thing that happens in these peace processes," he said.
"But they are going to give up the majority of their weapons.""But they are going to give up the majority of their weapons."
An estimated 220,000 people have died in the conflict. More than six million people have been internally displaced. According to the latest official figures, more than 260,000 people have died in the conflict. More than six million people have been internally displaced.
A final peace deal between the two sides was announced on 24 August in the Cuban capital, Havana, where the negotiations took place.A final peace deal between the two sides was announced on 24 August in the Cuban capital, Havana, where the negotiations took place.
Five days later a bilateral ceasefire came into force, effectively ending the conflict.Five days later a bilateral ceasefire came into force, effectively ending the conflict.
The Farc's 52-year fightThe Farc's 52-year fight
1964: Set up as armed wing of Communist Party1964: Set up as armed wing of Communist Party
2002: At its height, with an army of 20,000 fighters controlling up to a third of the country 2002: At its height, it had an army of 20,000 fighters controlling up to a third of the country. Senator Ingrid Betancourt kidnapped and held for six years along with 14 other hostages
2008: The group's worst year, when it suffered a series of bitter defeats 2008: The Farc suffers a series of defeats in its worst year
2012: Start of peace talks in Havana2012: Start of peace talks in Havana
2016: Definitive ceasefire2016: Definitive ceasefire
Full timeline of Farc conflictFull timeline of Farc conflict
Mr Santos, Farc leaders and heads of state from around the world, have been arriving in the historic port city of Cartagena for the signature of the peace accord on Monday evening.Mr Santos, Farc leaders and heads of state from around the world, have been arriving in the historic port city of Cartagena for the signature of the peace accord on Monday evening.
If the agreement is approved in next weekend's referendum, Farc will become a political party and join the legal political process from next year. If the agreement is approved in next Sunday's popular vote, the Farc will become a political party and join the legal political process from next year.
"Nobody likes the Farc. They've committed atrocities," Mr Santos told the BBC."Nobody likes the Farc. They've committed atrocities," Mr Santos told the BBC.
"But when you vote yes, they will disappear. They will cease to exist as a dark group.""But when you vote yes, they will disappear. They will cease to exist as a dark group."
Mr Santos said that as part of the peace agreement Farc had agreed to cut all links with drug trafficking and help farmers shift from the production of coca leaves to legal crops. Mr Santos said that as part of the peace agreement the Farc had agreed to cut all links with drug trafficking and help farmers shift from the production of coca leaves to legal crops.