Colombian peace talks to begin in October in Norway
Source: Reuters
Colombian peace talks to begin in October in Norway
Tue, 4 Sep 2012 19:41 GMT
Source: reuters // Reuters
* Negotiations to start in Oslo, then move to Havana
* Leftist FARC rebels have fought for five decades
* Santos seeks to do better than past failed negotiations
By Helen Murphy
BOGOTA, Sept 4 (Reuters) - Colombian government peace talks with leftist guerrillas to try and end Latin America's longest-running insurgency will begin next month in Norway before moving to Cuba, President Juan Manuel Santos said on Tuesday.
Unlike past failed negotiations with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) guerrillas, however, there will be no ceasefire this time, Santos said in a national TV address.
"I ask the Colombian people for patience and strength," Santos said, announcing the talks would start in the first half of October. "There's no doubt it's time to turn the page."
While Colombians are hopeful Santos will succeed, he faces a monumental task to reach peace with the FARC, which has holed up in Colombia's jungle territory since 1964 and imposed tough demands in past peace negotiations.
Read more: http://www.trust.org/alertnet/news/colombian-peace-talks-to-begin-in-october-in-norway
