This article is from the source 'nytimes' 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.nytimes.com/2012/09/05/world/americas/colombia-will-restart-peace-process-with-farc.html

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Colombia Will Restart Peace Process With FARC Colombia Will Restart Peace Process With FARC
(about 2 hours later)
QUITO, Ecuador — President Juan Manuel Santos of Colombia and the leader of his country’s largest guerrilla group said Tuesday that the two sides would soon sit down to a new phase of peace talks with the goal of ending the long conflict.QUITO, Ecuador — President Juan Manuel Santos of Colombia and the leader of his country’s largest guerrilla group said Tuesday that the two sides would soon sit down to a new phase of peace talks with the goal of ending the long conflict.
Mr. Santos, speaking in Bogotá at the presidential palace, said the talks with the group, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, would begin in the first half of October in Oslo and would later move to Havana.Mr. Santos, speaking in Bogotá at the presidential palace, said the talks with the group, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, would begin in the first half of October in Oslo and would later move to Havana.
The leader of the FARC, Rodrigo Londoño, who uses the nom de guerre Timochenko, spoke about the talks in a videotaped message played at a media event held by guerrilla representatives in Havana. Both speeches were broadcast on national television in Colombia.The leader of the FARC, Rodrigo Londoño, who uses the nom de guerre Timochenko, spoke about the talks in a videotaped message played at a media event held by guerrilla representatives in Havana. Both speeches were broadcast on national television in Colombia.
While both men spoke of their hopes for peace, the style of the two speeches was very different.While both men spoke of their hopes for peace, the style of the two speeches was very different.
Mr. Santos, 61, dressed in a dark jacket with a light blue tie, spoke in a moderate tone as he gave a characteristically polished address that included new details about the talks, which he announced last week in brief remarks. Seated on either side of him were top military officers and his cabinet ministers.Mr. Santos, 61, dressed in a dark jacket with a light blue tie, spoke in a moderate tone as he gave a characteristically polished address that included new details about the talks, which he announced last week in brief remarks. Seated on either side of him were top military officers and his cabinet ministers.
“If we are successful, we will have put an end to this dark night of half a century of violence,” Mr. Santos said. “There is no doubt that it’s time to turn the page.”“If we are successful, we will have put an end to this dark night of half a century of violence,” Mr. Santos said. “There is no doubt that it’s time to turn the page.”
Mr. Londoño appeared alone, dressed in olive green fatigues, wearing glasses and with a graying beard. He often shouted and wagged his finger.Mr. Londoño appeared alone, dressed in olive green fatigues, wearing glasses and with a graying beard. He often shouted and wagged his finger.
“We come to the table without rancor or arrogance to propose to the government that it give importance to” the oppressed, he said. “We come to the table without rancor or arrogance,” he said, adding that the group would press the government to take the needs of the poor into account.
Mr. Santos repeatedly emphasized that these talks would be different from negotiations by previous presidents, all of which ended in failure. There will be no cease-fire, he said, and the government will keep up military pressure on the FARC.Mr. Santos repeatedly emphasized that these talks would be different from negotiations by previous presidents, all of which ended in failure. There will be no cease-fire, he said, and the government will keep up military pressure on the FARC.
Mr. Londoño criticized the government for conducting peace talks under the threat of continued military action.Mr. Londoño criticized the government for conducting peace talks under the threat of continued military action.
In the last round of talks, begun in the late 1990s, the government gave the FARC a large safe zone in which to operate, but the guerrilla group used it to train troops, traffic in drugs and gather strength, stretching out the fruitless negotiations for years.In the last round of talks, begun in the late 1990s, the government gave the FARC a large safe zone in which to operate, but the guerrilla group used it to train troops, traffic in drugs and gather strength, stretching out the fruitless negotiations for years.
Mr. Santos said that this peace process would continue for months and that if they were not yielding concrete results, he would end them.Mr. Santos said that this peace process would continue for months and that if they were not yielding concrete results, he would end them.

William Neuman reported from Quito, and Jenny Carolina González from Bogotá, Colombia.

William Neuman reported from Quito, and Jenny Carolina González from Bogotá, Colombia.