Colombian Archbishop Ruben Salazar revealed Thursday that he had met in Rome with members of the Vatican to discuss a strategy for peace in the conflict-torn Andean nation.
“If it were possible to start to work on agreements that would allow for a rapprochement between the guerrilla and the government, well, that would undoubtedly be extremely positive,” said Salazar. If it is necessary that the Holy See intervene, I don’t think there will be any difficulty. I was talking with the second in charge of the secretary of state in Rome and there is an intention to favor everything that may bring peace,” Salazar said.
The Colombian archbishop added that he is prepared to do whatever Colombia’s President-elect Juan Manuel Santos may ask of the Catholic Church in terms of negotiations with guerrilla organization the FARC.
At the end of July, FARC leader Guillermo Saenz alias “Alfonso Cano” proposed a dialogue with Santos’ incoming administration.
Colombia’s Vice President-elect Angelino Garzon responded that the Santos administration is disposed to open doors to a dialogue with the FARC, on the conditions that the guerrilla group agrees to “set free all the kidnapped people without conditions, cease the practice of kidnapping, terrorism and land mines,” as well as stop the practice of forced recruitment of civilians.
Santos will be inaugurated August 7.