CUBA: Six months into peace talks, FARC looks at progress, pace

Record ID: 349700

  • Title: CUBA: Six months into peace talks, FARC looks at progress, pace
  • Date: 19th May 2013
  • Summary: HAVANA, CUBA (MAY 19, 2013) (REUTERS) NEGOTIATING TEAM FROM THE REVOLUTIONARY ARMED FORCES OF COLOMBIA (FARC) ARRIVING TO CONVENTION CENTRE FOR ONGOING PEACE TALKS WITH COLOMBIAN GOVERNMENT FARC REPRESENTATIVES SPEAKING TO THE MEDIA (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) LEAD NEGOTIATOR FOR THE FARC, IVAN MARQUEZ, SAYING: "The balance is positive. We have advanced amid difficulties, tryin
  • Embargoed: 3rd June 2013 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Cuba
  • Country: Cuba
  • Topics: Conflict
  • Reuters ID: LVABF5F0G1B3SXDW1OZJRY9JRYPF
  • Story Text: Colombian rebels said on Sunday (May 19) that some progress has been made as peace talks with the Colombian government reached the six month mark with no agreement.
    Representatives from the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) and the Colombian government marked the day with another round of closed door discussions in Havana.
    Before entering the talks however, the FARC's lead negotiator, Ivan Marquez, things were going well overall.
    "The balance is positive. We have advanced amid difficulties, trying to find some common ground on positions that are diametrically opposite. That this explains a little of the complications and the difficulties in following a pace solicited by people who do not know the internal circumstances of the talks," he said.
    Marquez added that people watching the negotiations had to lower their expectations for a quick resolution.
    "We are satisfied. I don't understand why it is said that the rhythm of the talks are slow. We don't know if it's because we have been going at a sprint pace. You are seeing now the Tour of Italy (bike race). Some want us to go at this pace, but if we go at this pace, we will be exploited. We have to approach these issues with serenity, profundity if we really want to form the solid bases to build a stable and long-lasting peace," he said.
    Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos took the greatest risk of his political career last year by launching peace negotiations with the FARC, in the hope of ending five decades of war.
    Talks have dragged on without reaching accord on the first of a five-point agenda, putting in doubt Santos' goal that the two sides will reach agreement this year.
    The government's battle against the FARC, Latin America's biggest and longest-running guerrilla insurgency, has killed more than 100,000 people, made vast swathes of land too dangerous to farm and forced millions from their homes.
    It also has diverted billions of dollars from the economy as legitimate industry is unable to function at full capacity and the government is forced to spend heavily on troops and weapons.
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