The United States Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs reaffirmed on Thursday that the U.S. supports the peace process between Colombia’s government and the FARC and hopes it will “bear fruit.”
Assistant Secretary of State Mike Hammer reaffirmed that the U.S. supports the peace talks in a recorded video while answering questions that were asked to him via Twitter.
“The United States fully supports the peace process launched by Santos finally bringing peace to the people. The key here is that the FARC stop their terrorism and violence against the people and cease their association with drug trafficking,” said Hammer, responding to a question that asked his opinion on the Colombian government negotiating with a group that is considered terrorist by the U.S.
Hammer also stated that he hopes the negotiations will “bear fruit” and that his government wants to see “people who can live in tranquility and peace.”
Negotiations between Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos’ administration and the left-wing guerrilla group FARC are scheduled to begin next week in the Norwegian capital Oslo in the hope of finding peace and ending the country’s 48-year-old conflict.