HAVANA (Reuters) – Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos arrived in Cuba yesterday to announce a breakthrough in peace talks including a provision on what punishment Marxist FARC rebels should face for their role in Latin America’s longest war.
The visit marks the first time the president has travelled to Cuba since the Havana negotiations began nearly three years ago.
The event will place Santos in the same room with rebel leader Rodrigo Londono, better known by the nom de guerre Timochenko, in a historic meeting that may point to a coming peace accord.
Rebels of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) have fought the Colombian government for 51 years in a conflict that has killed some 220,000 and displaced millions.
The peace talks have reached several partial accords, with the one on justice for former combatants seen as especially difficult.
The justice agreement also includes reparations for war victims.
The two sides previously reached partial agreements on land reform, political participation for ex-rebels and an end to the illegal drug trade. In addition the two have reached a side agreement on removing landmines from the battlefield.
The issue of how to demobilize combatants and end the conflict will remain on the agenda. After that, any comprehensive deal would be put before Colombian voters for approval.
