CUBA: Lead FARC negotiator, Ivan Marquez, blasts the Colombian government for 'intensifying the war' as tensions mount in Havana-based peace talks

Record ID: 349664

  • Title: CUBA: Lead FARC negotiator, Ivan Marquez, blasts the Colombian government for 'intensifying the war' as tensions mount in Havana-based peace talks
  • Date: 1st February 2013
  • Summary: HAVANA, CUBA (FEBRUARY 1, 2013) (REUTERS) **CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY** EXTERIOR OF CONVENTION CENTRE VARIOUS OF FARC NEGOTIATORS ARRIVING AT CONVENTION CENTRE AND WALKING TOWARD REPORTERS SIGN READING: "PEACE TALKS. HAVANA, CUBA" (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) HEAD FARC NEGOTIATOR, IVAN MARQUEZ, SAYING: "The 'NOs' of the government are now loud and multiple in regard to all of
  • Embargoed: 16th February 2013 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Cuba
  • Country: Cuba
  • Topics: International Relations
  • Reuters ID: LVA9GE0XXYYXKYRVZDN6XRIC2CPR
  • Story Text: The FARC's lead peace talk negotiator, Ivan Marquez, slammed the Colombian government on Friday (February 1) and accused Juan Manuel Santo's administration of failing to cooperate in peace efforts.

    "The 'NOs' of the government are now loud and multiple in regard to all of our initiatives that favour peace in Colombia. What's more, the Colombian people have heard through the media the reiteration of the government order to intensify the war, which is now strangely accompanied by complaints of the consequences, while we are called cynics," said Marquez.

    "As opposed to the escalation of war that the government is ordering, from our legitimate resistance, our insistence is to escalate efforts to achieve peace and to do a big campaign to protect our negotiation table, understanding that it's preferable to give a dialogue initiative sufficient time rather than to perpetuate injustice and war without another option," added Marquez.
    The talks have stumbled upon shaky ground in recent days with the government holding the Marxist rebels responsible for a new spate of kidnappings and murders since the end of a two-month unilateral ceasefire on January 20.
    The government refused to join the ceasefire, calling it a sham by the FARC to gain international attention. The army kept attacking the group and carried out several aerial raids that killed at least 34 rebels.
    The two sides have been engaged in peace talks in Havana since November, trying to reach an end to a decades-long war that has killed tens of thousands and defied all past attempts for resolution.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2013. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register