Colombia’s President Juan Manuel Santos has reiterated his support of maintaining a military offensive against Colombia’s largest rebel group, FARC, until a peace treaty is signed, Colombian media reported on Wednesday.
Although peace talks between the Colombian government and the FARC have been underway since November, 2012, President Santos reaffirmed that he would continue to combat the FARC militarily until a final peace accord had been struck.
“The instructions I have given, and reiterated, is to maintain the offensive until the moment an agreement has been signed. That is an order that has been kept and will continue to be kept,” said Santos in a meeting with commanders of the military and the director of the National Police, according to a press release.
President Santos also announced that steps forward are being taken as to the future of the Armed Forces in a post-conflict Colombia.
Colombia’s Armed Forces have not ceased military action against the rebels throughout the peace process, but FARC guerrillas, along with the country’s second largest rebel group, ELN, had both implemented temporary unilateral ceasefires during Colombia’s presidential elections.
MORE: Colombia’s rebel groups honor ceasefire during presidential elections: NGO
The 2014 presidential elections were declared the safest in recent Colombian history.
MORE: Colombia’s election most quiet and safe in recent history: govt
Santos declared in his presidential campaign that Colombia’s military would not be weakened in the slightest in a post-conflict Colombia. The president also promised to eliminate Colombia’s obligatory military service should a peace agreement be struck.
MORE: Peace deal with FARC would mean end to Colombia’s obligatory military service: Santos