Mediator Piedad Cordoba said Sunday she is confident Colombia’s largest rebel group FARC will release all their hostages by the second half of this year.
The former senator made the remark one day before flying to Brazil where she will pick up Brazilian helicopters and pilots to assist in the release of five FARC hostages between Wednesday and Sunday.
Cordoba told press that the liberation of these hostages should be the beginning of a continuous process of releases. The FARC, which currently holds some 20 members of the security forces, is showing the will to release captives and pave the way to peace talks with the government, according to Cordoba.
The former senator also praised the attitude of the administration of President Juan Manuel Santos, who she said could become the president of peace.
Santos has said on several occasions that the door to peace talks is open on the condition that the FARC release all hostages and refrain from committing acts of terrorisms.
Spanish press agency EFE on Sunday quoted a FARC communique in which the rebels called on the Colombian government to “take advantage of the opportunity” and initiate peace talks.