OSLO/BOGOTA (Reuters) – Colombian government negotiators and Marxist rebels have delayed their departure for peace talks in Norway aimed at ending nearly half a century of conflict but still plan to arrive in time for their only publicly scheduled event tomorrow, Norway said.
Colombian officials, expected to have arrived in Norway over the weekend, will not come until today because of “logistical difficulties”, a Norwegian government spokeswoman said.
It remained unclear when the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) would arrive.
The sides agreed to start talks in the first two weeks of October but had already delayed their arrival once to iron out details for discussions, which will he held under the principle “nothing is agreed until everything is agreed.”
FARC leader Timoleon Jimenez told RCN and “La FM” radio in Colombia that there had been logistical delays in getting Ivan Marquez, a member of the seven-member secretariat and FARC negotiator, to Cuba and other issues regarding arrest warrants.
“According to the prepared schedule for pick up, our comrade’s group was the last. For security reasons, our people do not move to the site until the time and date to pick them up is confirmed,” Jimenez, also known as Timochenko, said.
Timochenko said that delays in lifting international arrest warrants for some FARC delegates were also a source of the lag.
The interview was broadcast yesterday
Timochenko responded to pre-written questions, and sources at the local media stations said that the recording was received early yesterday and was likely made on Sunday.
Timochenko, who took over the FARC after the previous leader was killed by Colombian forces in 2011, did not say whether Marquez had made it to Cuba yet nor when the FARC delegation was expected in Norway, but reiterated the rebels’ commitment.
“We’ll arrive in Oslo or wherever the installation (of talks) is performed,” he said.
“The table in the name of reconciliation of Colombians is a reality, the desired space to get on the road to peace and social justice is open.”
