COLOMBIA-REBELS/TALKS FARC leader warns advances in peace talks are not irreversible

Record ID: 588375

  • Title: COLOMBIA-REBELS/TALKS FARC leader warns advances in peace talks are not irreversible
  • Date: 23rd March 2015
  • Summary: HAVANA, CUBA (MARCH 23, 2015) (REUTERS) ****WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** VARIOUS OF REVOLUTIONARY ARMED FORCES OF COLOMBIA (FARC) MEMBERS ARRIVING FOR PEACE TALKS JOURNALIST PHOTOGRAPHING THE EVENT FARC LEADER, PABLO CATATUMBO, AT THE CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) REVOLUTIONARY ARMED FORCES OF COLOMBIA LEADER, PABLO CATATUMBO, SAYING: "It is not suitable for us to put together a matrix of irreversibility, because if we raise expectations to unrealistic heights we could end up in frustrating territory, especially when talking about imposing legal formulas upon guerrilla activity, such that if there is non-compliance, the latter will be accused of intransigence which would then obstruct developments in the (peace) process." CATATUMBO DURING THE CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) REVOLUTIONARY ARMED FORCES OF COLOMBIA LEADER, PABLO CATATUMBO, SAYING: "There is a lot to do, a lot to go through, and many more intentions to be carried out before we can say that everything is ready." JOURNALISTS AT THE CONFERENCE CATATUMBO LEAVING THE CONFERENCE VARIOUS OF THE COLOMBIAN GOVERNMENT DELEGATION ARRIVING FOR TALKS
  • Embargoed: 7th April 2015 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Cuba
  • Country: Cuba
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVAC43LWRHAR8KZFZ2VSV04LEUEZ
  • Story Text: Developments in peace talks between the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) and the Colombian government cannot be considered irreversible, a leader of the guerrilla organization Pablo Catatumbo said on Monday (March 23) at the start of a new round of talks in Havana.
    The two-year peace negotiations led by Colombian president Juan Manuel Santos in Cuba aim to end half a century of bloody conflicts which have left 220,000 dead and displaced millions.
    Negotiators have reached partial deals on land reform, rebels' participation in politics and an end to the illegal drug trade, and are attempting to tackle victim reparations and rebel demobilization.
    Catatumbo said that such developments must not be considered irreversible, however, and that talks must be realistic in order for the outcome to be sustainable.
    "It is not suitable for us to put together a matrix of irreversibility, because if we raise expectations to unrealistic heights we could end up in frustrating territory, especially when talking about imposing legal formulas upon guerrilla activity, such that if there is non-compliance, the latter will be accused of intransigence which would then obstruct developments in the (peace) process," said Catatumbo in Havana on Monday.
    "There is a lot to do, a lot to go through, and many more intentions to be carried out before we can say that everything is ready," Catatumbo added regarding the agreement which, once ready, will have to be approved by Colombians in a possible referendum.
    The Marxist FARC rejected on Wednesday (March 18) the creation of a peace assessment commission by Santos, saying it does not represent all sectors of the country.
    A day later, the insurgents threatened to end a unilateral truce that has been in place since December unless the government calls off military attacks on rebel positions.
    In a side agreement, the two sides have also announced a joint effort to begin removing landmines across the country.
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