According to President Juan Manuel Santos himself, the Colombian government intends to establish a type of permanent commission, to replace the current cyclical model, which will work continuously until a peace accord is signed.

We want to advance talks and bring them to a satisfactory end, hopefully before March 23 – the previously established date – reported the President after a meeting held in Cartagena de Indias with representatives to the talks. After Colombian government and FARC-EP delegations reached an agreement on victims’ rights which includes an integrated system for truth, justice and reparations, the two parties must now address other controversial issues such as a ceasefire, disarmament and demobilization of the rebels. Nonetheless, attorney Humberto de la Calle, head of the government delegation, admitted that the most difficult issues to resolve are the conditions under which a definitive bilateral ceasefire should be declared, as well as mechanisms to be used for the people’s approval of the full agreement.

While the Colombian government is calling for a national referendum, the FARC-EP is requesting a National Constituent Assembly be held.
Despite progress made during talks, which have been taking place in Cuba since 2012, advisor to the process and former British Cabinet minister Jonathan Powell, noted that the final phase of an important process such as this is always the most difficult, while highlighting that the talks have passed a crucial juncture and success seems possible.

As a result of the talks the two delegations have reached agreements on issues such as land reform, political participation, the fight against drug trafficking and the rights of victims, of which there are over seven million. The over 50 year armed conflict has resulted in 300,000 civilian deaths.

(Prensa Latina)

“We have agreed that within six months, at the latest, this negotiation of a final accord can be completed. A few difficult points remain, but we are already ending a 60-year war; the only one, and the longest, on our continent,” Santos said.

“I would like to recognize and highlight the step taken today by the revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia-People’s Army (FARC-EP)”, he continued.

“Today we are moving in the same direction, and it is the most noble one, which is that of peace.”

“Equally important as guaranteeing the rights of victims is ensuring that there will be no more victims, that the armed conflict be definitively ended,” Santos stated.

He recognized that the Colombian government bears the responsibility of assuring the FARC-EP’s security, as the new agreement is implemented.

He also noted that the rebels had agreed to lay down their arms within 60 days of the final accord.

The Colombian state will grant broad amnesty for political crimes, but crimes legally defined as crimes against humanity, genocide and serious war crimes will not be eligible for clemency, according to the text of the section just signed by the FARC-EP and the country’s government.

Referring to the victims and justice section of the accord, Santos described it as the “greatest accomplishment” thus far in the talks, saying that the Jurisdiction for Peace, for the most serious crimes, will not allow impunity.

Santos said all Colombians will have the opportunity to ratify the final agreement.

He thanked Raúl Castro and Cuba for their “hospitality and commitment to peace in Colombia;” the government of Norway which also serves as a guarantor; in addition to Venezuela and Chile, who are accompanying the process.

The Colombian President concluded saying, “I will take the words of Pope Francis, encourage the path, pray for sustaining efforts to reach definitive reconciliation and not allow another fiasco along this road to peace. We will not fail; the hour of peace has arrived.”

(Granma)