On September 26 in Bogotà, the Colombian government and the FARC-EP signed the historic agreement after four years of negotiations (see analysis on this subject on Online Defense) that puts an end to a conflict that lasted 52 years. The Colombian president Santos in signing it recalled the millions of innocent people who died because of the conflict, 'Timoshenko' for his part hoped that with the signing we can put an end to the long history of struggles and clashes in Colombia.
The leader of the insurgents focused his discourse on inequality in Colombia and for the first time publicly apologized. He added that "Colombia requires profound changes to make dreams of social justice come true" .
The conflict in Colombia with the FARC lasted more than five decades, as was mentioned before, it is estimated that 220.000 people are killed and more than five million displaced by the internal armed conflict.
There are thirteen heads of state who participated in the ceremony in Cuba, including the leaders of Mexico, El Salvador, Argentina, Uruguay and Venezuela and Cuba. The United Nations Secretary General also participated.
The agreement must now be ratified after the Colombian 2 October referendum. In their Political Declaration the FARC-EP emphasize that the meeting was an act "Historical and important, marked by democratic participation". The document emphasizes that "The Agreement has been approved in its entirety".
According to the guerrilla organization "The Final Agreement contains the potential to open the political transition towards the transformation of Colombian society, for its real democratization and the materialization of its rights, especially the rights of simple women and men in the countryside, the city, the communities".
The FARC-EP pointed out in the press release that the Agreement "Contains the minimum necessary to give continuity to our aspirations for the transformation of the current social order with political means". The group has announced that the congress that will announce the foundation of the new political party, in which it will itself be transformed, will take place no later than May of next year, if the implementation of the agreements is confirmed.
(photo: Colombian presidency)
