HURDAL, Norway/BOGOTA, (Reuters) – Colombian government and leftist rebel negotiators agreed to meet in Cuba in mid-November to start what are likely to be thorny peace talks aimed at patching together an end to half a century of conflict, both sides said yesterday.
Talks, which opened in Norway this week, are the latest in a long history of attempts to resolve the war which has left tens of thousands dead and millions more displaced since the founding of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, in 1964.
Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos is betting that a decade of U.S.-backed blows against the FARC has battered the group to the point it will seriously seek to end the fighting after so many previous efforts ended in shambles.
But in the first sign of discord, rebel leader Ivan Marquez slammed foreign oil and mining interests in Colombia, saying their presence was destructive and should be discussed. Humberto de la Calle, the government’s lead negotiator, ruled that out.
“The peace process will be successful if it is serious, realistic and efficient,” de la Calle said in Hurdal, Norway.
“We are not discussing the model of economic development. We are not discussing foreign investment. For that to be discussed on the Colombian agenda, the FARC have to lay down their arms, enter politics and win elections,” he said.
In a carefully stage-managed event, Norwegian organizers were able to avoid what became a symbol of the failure of the last attempt at peace in 1999: a vacant chair. Back then, a red-faced President Andres Pastrana sat next to the empty seat of FARC founder Manuel Marulanda, who failed to turn up.
This time, the two sides appeared jointly on Thursday at a plush hotel – the first time they have met publicly in a decade. The negotiators entered the conference room together, then sat at a table with representatives of Cuba and Norway between them. They did not talk or shake hands. The government delegation sat stone-faced as Marquez spoke for half an hour following short opening remarks by de la Calle. The sides then held separate press conferences.
The negotiations move to Cuba on Nov. 15 and will begin a five-point agenda with discussions about rural development. The last talks were held in a tent deep in the Colombian jungle. “The spirit of the agreement is clear and you don’t need to find a theologian to interpret it. We’ll work within the spirit,” said FARC negotiator Jesus Santrich, wearing dark glasses and carrying a walking cane.
“We are embracing this process and I would like to say to (de la Calle): ‘take it easy, we’re just starting.’
