Portugal’s president on Tuesday affirmed the European Union’s backing of Colombia’s peace process with rebel group FARC during a state visit to the Latin American nation.
Cavaco Silva also praised Colombia President Juan Manuel Santos for his role in the progress of the peace talks.
“President Juan Manuel Santos has been a strong leader and in Portugal and all over Europe we have been aware of the Colombian citizens’ great demonstration in favor of peace,” the Portuguese president claimed.
Cavaco Silva was likely referring to the peace marches in Colombia on April 9, when hundreds of thousands gathered in the streets to show their support for peace negotiations with the FARC in Havana, Cuba. Reports of the number of protesters involved in the marches differ wildly, with government supporters claiming there were over a million people present, a claim which the opposition strongly disputed.
MORE: Colombia government says million took part in Bogota peace march