International News

HAVANA, (APP/AFP): More than three years into marathon
peace talks to end Latin America’s last civil war, Colombia and Marxist FARC rebels missed their self-imposed deadline Wednesday, but pledged to keep trying.
“To be perfectly frank, we do have to tell the public that at this
time, there are still some differences with the FARC on significant issues,” said the government’s lead negotiator, Humberto de la Calle.
The lead negotiator for the FARC, Ivan Marquez, said “it was not
possible. Because the logical demands of a long and complicated war like that which Colombia has endured made it that way.”
On September 23, 2015, President Juan Manuel Santos and FARC leader
Timoleon Jimenez said in Havana, the host venue, that they would give the
process another six months, ending March 23, 2016.
The government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC)
had shown signs earlier in the week that they were not closing in on a done deal. They have reached agreement on most of the points on their agenda.
But they still have to iron out agreement on a bilateral, final
ceasefire that includes the rebels laying down their arms and a deal on how to ratify any accord they reach.
De la Calle said the two sides would keep pushing forward, this year,
and not necessarily in Havana indefinitely.
“We are going to give it our utmost to get a final deal struck. But
that takes timely decision-making. It’s what Colombians want. Excuse me, it is what they are demanding,” he added.