Cubadebate (English) » Juan Manuel Santos

Raúl receives Colombian President

Cubadebate — Tue, 18 Jul 2017 21:54:41 +0000

Army Raúl Castro Ruz, President of Cuba’s Councils of State and Ministers, yesterday morning, July 17, received the President of Colombia Juan Manuel Santos Calderón, who is making an official visit to the country.

In a cordial conversation, the two leaders discussed the positive state of bilateral relations, the process underway to implement the peace accords in Colombia, as well as other issues on the international agenda.

Accompanying the distinguished visitor was Foreign Minister María Ángela Holguín Cuéllar, and other members of the delegation.

Also participating on the Cuban side was Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla, minister of Foreign Relations, and other individuals.

(Granma)

Colombia votes No to peace deal

Cubadebate — Mon, 03 Oct 2016 23:49:13 +0000

The option not to ratify the peace agreement between the government of Juan Manuel Santos and FARC-EP won with 50,23% (6,428,776 votes) after the results of 99.76 % of polling stations had been collected; while the “yes” vote garnered 49,76% (6,369,008 ballots), according to information released by electoral authorities.

Of the 34,899,945 Colombians eligible to vote on Sunday, October 2, 63% abstained, with only 37% participating.

It is important to note that the results are valid, as in order for the vote to be considered adequate, at least 13% of the electorate needed to vote for one of the options.

On September 26, the Colombian government and Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia-People’s Army (FARC-EP) signed the Final Pace Agreement to bring the 52-year armed conflict to an end, which has left 220,000 dead and millions displaced.

On August 24, 2016, the national government and guerilla faction announced the final peace accord. The document was then submitted to Congress on August 25 and President Santos announced his decision to hold a referendum on October 2, 2016.

The documents were made public for all Colombians before the plebiscite was held last Sunday.

(Granma)

Santos Reveals Names of Government Negotiators in Peace Process

Cubadebate — Wed, 05 Sep 2012 15:32:58 +0000

Bogota, Sep 5 (Prensa Latina) Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos, announced today the names of the team of 10 negotiators who represent the government in the peace process with the guerrillas, led by lawyer and politician Humberto de la Calle.

Of these, five will be major or plenipotentiaries and five substitutes. In the first case, the acting representants are Sergio Jaramillo, new commissioner for Peace, Frank Pearl, Oscar Naranjo, former Police general, Luis Carlos Villegas and Jorge Mora Rangel, former Army general, all of a very great experience, he emphasized.

He also announced that De la Calle will lead a group of 30 delegates of the Executive, but only the main negotiators will remain in the roundtable that will be established in October in Oslo.

Colombia Approves Draft Bill for Possible Peace Talks

Cubadebate — Wed, 16 May 2012 13:37:43 +0000

Bogota, May 16 (Prensa Latina) The House of Representatives of Colombia approved a draft bill to establish a legal peace framework in the country for a possible negotiation with armed groups on the margin of the law.

The draft bill was ratified by 126 votes in favor and four against. It should be now debated in the Senate of the Republic.

The voting occurred after an explosion in the capital against former State Minister Fernando Londoño, and some hours before a car bomb was desactivated.

Meanwhile, President Juan Manuel Santos expressed gratitude to the Congress on his Twitter account for the approval of the draft bill despite the attack.

For the government, that draft bill will provide the president with the necessary tools to seek a possible end to the internal armed conflict through negotiations with armed groups.