Colombian politician and veteran FARC negotiator Alvaro Leyva has offered to mediate between the government and guerrillas in a letter to President Juan Manuel Santos and former leader Andres Pastrana, reported local media Friday.
Leyva, a former minister who has sought a negotiated end to the conflict since the 1980s, wants to help end “close to 50 years of bloodshed, ” according to the letter.
The Conservative party member participated in peace talks with the FARC throughout several governments, negotiating on behalf of former presidents Andres Pastrana and Alvaro Uribe, though all ultimately failed.
He campaigned in the 2006 presidential elections on the promise that he could end the armed conflict within six months.
It was revealed in a WikiLeaks cable released in March 2011 that former President Alvaro Uribe didn’t always have faith in his interlocuter, suspecting him of collaborating with the FARC.
In May 2008 Leyva was investigated over suspected ties to the rebel group, though the charges were dropped a year later.
