Colombia Seeks Uruguay's Help In Peace Process

[Judi Lynn]

Colombia Seeks Uruguay's Help In Peace Process

BOGOTA, June 27 (BERNAMA- NNN-MERCOPRESS) - President Juan Manuel Santos wants his Uruguayan peer Jose Mujica "much closer" to the Colombian peace process which is currently taking place in Cuba and has invited him to the country, said Foreign Minister Maria Angela Holguin during a visit to Montevideo.

"We want Mujica to visit Colombia, we want him closer to the peace process in which we are involved in Colombia," said Holguin who is on a regional tour that started in Peru and will continue in Argentina and Chile.

"We are extremely grateful to President Mujica for all his expressions in support of the peace process in Colombia.

For us this process is of vital importance, and his public support, including talking about the issue with Francis, for which we are extremely grateful," said Holguin following a meeting with Uruguayan Foreign Minister Luis Almagro and previously with President Mujica.

More:
http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v7/wn/newsworld.php?id=959240

[Peace Patriot]

1. Excellent! Mujica is a wonderful man!

Something tells me there might be a Noble Peace Prize coming--perhaps a collective one.

The longest civil war--maybe the longest war, ever, of any kind--70 years of it, ended! ENDED!

FINALLY!!!!

I have prayed for this peace with all my heart. Can it really be happening? I can hardly believe it. But if there is anyone who can pull these parties together to finish a genuine peace process, it is Jose Mujica!

His participation says everything to me. I have been wary up until now (because of the horrors inflicted on the demobilized left in the last peace process, and, of course, the on-going rightwing death squad murders in Colombia). Mujica joining the process is the best guarantee possible that that won't happen again, and that Colombia will awaken from its long nightmare.

I'm worried about the U.S. government and its corporate/war profiteer masters. I'm worried about NATO. I'm worried about U.S./Colombia "free trade for the rich." I'm worried about Uribe returning to power (and Jeb here). I'm worried about the Pentagon's bases and "forward operating locations" in Colombia. There is a lot to worry about--very serious worries. But the sheer relief for the people of Colombia--especially the poor, the FIVE MILLION displaced peasant farmers, the targeted labor leaders, the struggling community activists of all kinds--will be wonderful, with the end of this horrible war, which has been basically a war of the have's on the have-not's.

Mujica is an icon of what peace really means. He was once a leftist guerilla fighter, captured and tortured by the fascists--now he grows flowers, his only income, has virtually no possessions, and gives his presidential salary to the poor. He is PRESIDENT of Uruguay! And yet, a Hobbit. He even looks like a Hobbit, and lives like a Hobbit, and like the Hobbit of the tale, has a history of unlikely combat with Evil. A very wise old man. What a boon for Santos, the FARC and Colombia! They could not have a better peacemaker.