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Colombia agrees to hold peace talks with Farc rebels | Colombia agrees to hold peace talks with Farc rebels |
(about 7 hours later) | |
Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos has confirmed his government is holding exploratory talks with the country's largest rebel group, the Farc. | Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos has confirmed his government is holding exploratory talks with the country's largest rebel group, the Farc. |
In an address on state TV, Mr Santos said he was fulfilling his "duty to seek peace". Media reports say a deal on further talks was reached in Cuba. | In an address on state TV, Mr Santos said he was fulfilling his "duty to seek peace". Media reports say a deal on further talks was reached in Cuba. |
The Farc has been fighting the Colombian government since 1964. | The Farc has been fighting the Colombian government since 1964. |
The president said the second biggest rebel group, the ELN, had also indicated a readiness to talk. | The president said the second biggest rebel group, the ELN, had also indicated a readiness to talk. |
'Learning from mistakes' | 'Learning from mistakes' |
Mr Santos gave no details about the exploratory talks with the left-wing Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc). | Mr Santos gave no details about the exploratory talks with the left-wing Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc). |
According to the regional media network Telesur, negotiators from the two sides signed a preliminary agreement in the Cuban capital Havana on Monday. | According to the regional media network Telesur, negotiators from the two sides signed a preliminary agreement in the Cuban capital Havana on Monday. |
Telesur said the first round of peace talks would be held in the Norwegian capital Oslo on 5 October. Negotiators would then continue holding talks in Havana, it added. | Telesur said the first round of peace talks would be held in the Norwegian capital Oslo on 5 October. Negotiators would then continue holding talks in Havana, it added. |
Referring to previous failed talks with the Farc during the government of then-president Andres Pastrana, Mr Santos said his government had "learned from the mistakes committed in the past". | Referring to previous failed talks with the Farc during the government of then-president Andres Pastrana, Mr Santos said his government had "learned from the mistakes committed in the past". |
Mr Santos said military operations would continue and that "each centimetre of the country would have a military presence". | Mr Santos said military operations would continue and that "each centimetre of the country would have a military presence". |
As part of the peace talks launched in 1998, Mr Pastrana had granted the Farc a safe haven the size of Switzerland in the south-east to help move peace talks along. | As part of the peace talks launched in 1998, Mr Pastrana had granted the Farc a safe haven the size of Switzerland in the south-east to help move peace talks along. |
The zone was off-limits to the army and the rebels used it to train and regroup. | The zone was off-limits to the army and the rebels used it to train and regroup. |
Mr Pastrana ordered the rebels out of their safe haven after the peace talks failed in February 2002, but part of the area remains a rebel stronghold to this day. | Mr Pastrana ordered the rebels out of their safe haven after the peace talks failed in February 2002, but part of the area remains a rebel stronghold to this day. |
Farc approaches | Farc approaches |
Last August, the Farc leader at the time, Alfonso Cano, said the group was ready for peace negotiations. | Last August, the Farc leader at the time, Alfonso Cano, said the group was ready for peace negotiations. |
Since then, rumours have circulated about secret meetings between government representatives and the rebels in the Cuban capital. | Since then, rumours have circulated about secret meetings between government representatives and the rebels in the Cuban capital. |
Upon taking office just over two years ago, Mr Santos signalled his willingness to open peace talks. | Upon taking office just over two years ago, Mr Santos signalled his willingness to open peace talks. |
He has come under severe criticism for this from his predecessor, Alvaro Uribe. | He has come under severe criticism for this from his predecessor, Alvaro Uribe. |
The Farc also re-stated their openness to talks in March. Following the death of Alfonso Cano in a bombing raid, the Farc's new leader, known as Timochenko, said it was "worth betting on peace". | The Farc also re-stated their openness to talks in March. Following the death of Alfonso Cano in a bombing raid, the Farc's new leader, known as Timochenko, said it was "worth betting on peace". |
Colombian security forces have achieved a series of successes against the rebel group in recent years, killing some of its key leaders and arresting many others. | Colombian security forces have achieved a series of successes against the rebel group in recent years, killing some of its key leaders and arresting many others. |
But officials estimate that some 8,000 Farc guerrillas are still fighting Latin America's longest-running insurgency. | But officials estimate that some 8,000 Farc guerrillas are still fighting Latin America's longest-running insurgency. |
Referring to the ELN, Mr Santos said that if the group was serious about an end to the armed conflict, it too could be part of peace talks. | Referring to the ELN, Mr Santos said that if the group was serious about an end to the armed conflict, it too could be part of peace talks. |
In a recent interview, ELN leader Nicolas Rodriguez said he was willing to hold negotiations but refused to end the the group's campaign of kidnapping and bomb attacks ahead of any talks. | In a recent interview, ELN leader Nicolas Rodriguez said he was willing to hold negotiations but refused to end the the group's campaign of kidnapping and bomb attacks ahead of any talks. |
Time for talks | Time for talks |
While it is too early to say whether this latest attempt at talks will work, it does seem as if Colombia is ready for peace, Peter Hakim from US-based think-tank Inter-American Dialogue told the BBC. | While it is too early to say whether this latest attempt at talks will work, it does seem as if Colombia is ready for peace, Peter Hakim from US-based think-tank Inter-American Dialogue told the BBC. |
"One senses that both sides see themselves at an impasse. The guerrillas are not going to be able to do much more than... hit-and-run activities. The government, to wipe out the last group of guerrillas, it's going to be very costly," he said. | "One senses that both sides see themselves at an impasse. The guerrillas are not going to be able to do much more than... hit-and-run activities. The government, to wipe out the last group of guerrillas, it's going to be very costly," he said. |
Readers contacting the BBC News website from Colombia broadly welcomed the latest developments, but many indicated that lasting peace means much more than signing any document. | Readers contacting the BBC News website from Colombia broadly welcomed the latest developments, but many indicated that lasting peace means much more than signing any document. |
"The breeding ground for these kind of organisations such as guerrillas and paramilitaries is inequality and partial, in some cases, complete absence of a state providing security, health and education to its population," wrote Javier Pardo in Bogota. | "The breeding ground for these kind of organisations such as guerrillas and paramilitaries is inequality and partial, in some cases, complete absence of a state providing security, health and education to its population," wrote Javier Pardo in Bogota. |
Patricia in Bogota also identified the need for the state to be present in rural areas where guerrillas hold sway. | Patricia in Bogota also identified the need for the state to be present in rural areas where guerrillas hold sway. |
"People in these areas need more opportunity to participate in the progress and prosperity the people in the cities are enjoying," she wrote. | "People in these areas need more opportunity to participate in the progress and prosperity the people in the cities are enjoying," she wrote. |