The negotiation teams of Colombia’s government and rebel group FARC have separated and are independently studying peace proposals, reportedly to speed up ongoing peace talks.
Following Wednesday’s resumption of talks after a short break, the two teams changed tactics and not meet for a cycle of nine days as had become usual, but to take each others proposals for agrarian reform and study them separately.
MORE: FARC ‘willing and ready’ to accelerate peace talks: Rebel negotiator
The change in tactics of the teams in Cuba followed increasing impatience at home and calls to accelerate peace talks that began in November, but have not passed the first of six points of discussion. However, according to Spanish press agency EFE, government negotiators said the teams had separated before.
As agreed in a preliminary deal, the negotiators of the warring parties will first have to come to an agreement on agrarian reform in Colombia before moving to discuss the possible political participation of the FARC after their demobilization.
BACKGROUND: Text of deal between Colombia’s government and rebel group FARC to end armed conflict