The European Union on Tuesday offered its “full support” for Colombia’s peace talks between the government and rebel group FARC.
Colombia’s Defense Minister Juan Carlos Pinzon met with the Deputy Secretary General of European External Action Service Helga Schmid during his visit to Brussels on Monday and Tuesday.
According to the official EU statement, Schmid offered her “full support” to the Government of Colombia in the search for a negotiated solution to Colombia’s internal armed conflict.
The EU official further used the occasion to welcome the progress that have been made during the Havana peace talks – since their beginning in November 2012.
The European Union expressed hope of a rapid conclusion of talks between the government and FARC so Colombia can enter into a “full-fledged peace-building phase.”
Negotiators of the FARC and government began a second cycle of talks regarding the rebels’ political participation last week after successfully ending negotiations over agrarian reforms. The negotiating teams announced to be discussing the issue separately before joining each other at the peace negotiation table in Havana this week.
If successful, the peace talks will end the FARC’s nearly half-a-century long war with the Colombian state.