Rumored peace talks between the Colombian government and leftist rebels could be initiated in Cuba, according to El Espectador Thursday.
The issue of peace has been high on the agenda in recent weeks, with Colombian media outlets awash with discussions of secret peace talks, imminent government success on the battlefield, and the apparent willingness of FARC supreme leader “Timochenko” to enter in to negotiations.
Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos has maintained a tough line against the armed insurgents, demanding the release of hostages before any negotiations can be initiated.
But according to El Espectador, the wheels may already be in motion for secret talks based in Cuba, with the newspaper citing the presence of former Colombian senator Piedad Cordoba in the country, alongside Colombian Ambassador to Cuba Gustavo Bell Lemus, who together present a high-profile peace lobby.
As president of the Colombian Congress’ Peace Commission, Cordoba has made several previous trips to Cuba to discuss the situation in her country and, according to Caracol Radio, it is highly likely that peace would be on the agenda during her current visit.
Bell Lemus served as Defence Minister during the 1998-2002 presidency of Andres Pastrana, when the last concerted effort for peace was made. The agenda of these failed talks, held in the demilitarized zone of El Caguan, is what Timochenko suggested should be “resumed,” in a statement earlier this month.
For now though, in the words of El Espctador, “everything is just rumor” and the government is expected to maintain its forthright stance until concrete actions from the FARC allow any sort of conciliatory gestures in return.
But with the release by the FARC of six security forces hostages due very soon, a new phase of the conflict could be on the agenda.