Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos proposed Thursday that the implementation of peace agreements with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) can be achieved through a special congress that would also include some rebel leaders.
The move is aimed at ensuring the success of peace processes between the Colombian government and guerrillas, a process that has taken place in Havana, since 2012, with the mediation of diplomats from Cuba and Norway.
"It can be done through a legislative act, but we can also create a kind of “congresito” (little congress), that will help to develop the agreements " said the President, elected in 2014 for a second consecutive four-year period.
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Santos said this proposal has not yet been brought to the negotiation table in Havana, where both parties are trying to put an end to the 50-year-old armed conflict that has claimed the lives of over 220,000 Colombian people and displaced millions.
Last month, Santos pledged to ‘de-escalate’ military action against the guerrillas if the rebels respect a unilateral ceasefire. The government's lead negotiator at peace talks said the federal government was committed to building trust towards a bilateral cease-fire.
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So far, the peace talks have led to partial agreements on three of the five agenda points, including land reform, an end to the illegal drugs trade, and political participation for left-wing guerrillas. Discussions however, regarding victim reparations and the demobilization of combatants are ongoing and remain unresolved.