Colombia's Government has reached a historic peace deal with FARC Guerrillas to
end a five-decade civil war following peace talks brokered by Cuba.
Both sides have spent four years negotiating an end to the conflict which has cost hundreds of thousands of lives.
Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos, pictured, addressed the people last night and told them that the talks, which began in Havana in November 2012 have successfully concluded
Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos, pictured, addressed the people last night and told them that the talks, which began in Havana in November 2012 have successfully concluded
Colombian president Juan Manuel Santos said he would put the peace deal to the people in a referendum on October02,2016
Cuban diplomat Rodolfo Benitez announced the deal in Havana following a four-year round of peace talks.
Colombian government minister Humberto de la Calle, right, shook hands with FARC's delegate at the conclusion of the peace talks, Ivan Marquez, left, after agreeing a historic peace deal bringing to an end some five decades of conflict
He
said: 'The Colombian government and the FARC announce that we have
reached a final, full and definitive accord... on ending the conflict
and building a stable and enduring peace,' the two sides said in a joint
statement read out in Havana by Cuban diplomat Rodolfo Benitez
'We don't want one more victim in Colombia.'
In
a national address just after the announcement, Santos - who has staked
his legacy on the peace process - said the deal marked 'the end of the
suffering, the pain and the tragedy of war.'
He
immediately launched his campaign for a 'Yes' vote in the referendum,
which he said would be the most important election of voters' lives.
FARC chief negotiator Ivan Marquez called the accord a new chapter for Colombia.
'We can now say that fighting with weapons ends and with ideas begins,' he said from Havana.
The peace deal comprises six agreements reached at each step of the arduous negotiations.
They
cover justice for victims of the conflict, land reform, political
participation for ex-rebels, fighting drug trafficking, disarmament and
the implementation and monitoring of the accord.
Under
the peace deal, the FARC will begin moving its estimated 7,000 fighters
from their jungle and mountain hideouts into disarmament camps set up
by the United Nations, which is helping monitor the ceasefire.
UN
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon congratulated the negotiators for their
perseverance, while emphasizing that equal determination will be needed
to implement the agreement.
EU
foreign affairs chief Federica Mogherini warned in a statement that a
number of challenges remain for implementation, but that the deal would
bring lasting peace.
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