Colombia President Juan Manuel Santos on Monday called on his country’s youth to support ongoing peace talks with the country’s oldest and largest rebel group, the FARC.
At a Bogota event to celebrate International Youth Day, Santos called on those present to support his administration’s efforts to seek peace with the guerrillas that have been fighting the state since 1964, decades before Colombia’s young population was born.
“I am going to need all of you. I need you to support a dream I have, a dream that has a lot to do with the lives of all of you,” Santos said, adding that his dream is “to sign peace, to sign peace for this country.”
According to the president, “a lot of people fear peace,” stressing that there is no reason to fear “taking this country at war to being a country at peace.”
“This is where young people are the bravest and are most interested in peace,” said Santos.
The president called on the audience to “let themselves be heard.”
“Don’t be indifferent, but support this process. This process is very important for the future of the country and very important for you,” said Santos.
The Colombian government began peace talks with the FARC in November, following nearly half a decade of violence. If the talks are successful, the FARC — by far the country’s best known leftist guerrilla group — has promised to cease hostilities and reintegrate to society as a political organization.