COLOMBIA/CUBA: Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos says a popular vote on a peace accord with Marxist rebels is a possibility, but rejects a FARC demand to change the constitution if a deal is reached

Record ID: 349657

  • Title: COLOMBIA/CUBA: Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos says a popular vote on a peace accord with Marxist rebels is a possibility, but rejects a FARC demand to change the constitution if a deal is reached
  • Date: 17th January 2013
  • Summary: HAVANA, CUBA (RECENT) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF FARC AND GOVERNMENT DELEGATIONS NEGOTIATING
  • Embargoed: 1st February 2013 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Cuba
  • Country: Cuba
  • Topics: Crime,Conflict,International Relations,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVADE1G5L9NMWM7GXXNKP6UT7YAY
  • Story Text: Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos on Wednesday (January 16) opened the door to a popular vote on any peace accord negotiated and signed with FARC rebels, but rejected a guerrilla demand to change the constitution if a deal is clinched.
    Talks to bring an end to Latin America's longest-running insurgency began in Cuba in November, when the government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, known as the FARC, sat down for the first round of a five-point peace agenda.
    Ivan Marquez, head of the Marxist FARC negotiating team, has called for a national assembly to change Colombia's constitution and ensure any agreements would be set in stone.
    The drug-funded group, which has fought successive governments since 1964 and killed tens of thousands, reiterated their demand on Tuesday. But Santos rejected the idea.

    "It's very possible that we could find a way to seek popular approval for any accord," Santos said during an address in the Norte de Santander province. "That's still to be discussed. But I want it to be very clear that we will not end these agreements with a national assembly."
    Santos has ruled out discussing major changes to Colombia's economic or political model, saying that if the guerrillas want to modify the system, they should run for election..
    The FARC has said it will lift its two-month-long unilateral ceasefire on Sunday (January 20), raising concern a re-energized group will launch new attacks against military and civilian targets.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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