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Colombia Announces Peace Talks With Rebel Group, Days Before Election Colombia Says It Has Begun Peace Talks With Rebels
(about 2 hours later)
The government of Colombia announced on Tuesday that it had begun exploratory peace talks with a second rebel group, just days ahead of a hotly contested presidential election that could hinge on how voters perceive the efforts of President Juan Manuel Santos to end decades of guerrilla warfare.The government of Colombia announced on Tuesday that it had begun exploratory peace talks with a second rebel group, just days ahead of a hotly contested presidential election that could hinge on how voters perceive the efforts of President Juan Manuel Santos to end decades of guerrilla warfare.
Backers of Mr. Santos’ opponent, Óscar Iván Zuluaga, immediately criticized the announcement as a political maneuver. Backers of Mr. Santos’s opponent, Óscar Iván Zuluaga, immediately criticized the announcement as a political maneuver.
Mr. Santos started negotiations with the country’s largest rebel group, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, in late 2012. Government negotiators have said they have reached agreements on several key issues with the FARC, including programs to alleviate rural poverty and ways for the group to take part in the political process. A final agreement, however, remains elusive. Mr. Santos started negotiations with the country’s largest rebel group, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, in late 2012. Government negotiators have said they have reached agreements on several central issues with the FARC, including programs to alleviate rural poverty and ways for the group to take part in the political process. A final agreement, however, remains elusive.
The newly announced talks are with a different and much smaller group, the National Liberation Army, or ELN. The government said preliminary talks began early this year and that the two sides are discussing how to move ahead with more formal negotiations in a process that appeared similar to the one that brought to the table the government and the FARC. The newly announced talks are with a different and much smaller group, the National Liberation Army, or ELN. The government said that the preliminary talks had begun early this year and that the two sides were discussing how to move ahead with more formal negotiations in a process that appeared similar to the one that brought to the table the government and the FARC.
Mr. Santos said on Tuesday that agreements with the FARC and the ELN would be “the best guarantee that the conflict ends once and for all and will never be repeated.” Mr. Santos said Tuesday that agreements with the FARC and the ELN would be “the best guarantee that the conflict ends once and for all and will never be repeated.”
Voters go to the polls on Sunday, in an election that analysts say is the closest in years. Mr. Santos, who has led the country since 2010, has cast himself as the candidate most capable of achieving peace.Voters go to the polls on Sunday, in an election that analysts say is the closest in years. Mr. Santos, who has led the country since 2010, has cast himself as the candidate most capable of achieving peace.
Mr. Zuluaga has been a harsh critic of the peace talks with the FARC, charging that Mr. Santos is liable to give away too much in order to reach a deal. In recent weeks, however, Mr. Zuluaga has modified his tone, saying he would be willing to continue the talks if the FARC meets a series of conditions, including halting all military activity. Mr. Zuluaga has been a harsh critic of the peace talks with the FARC, charging that Mr. Santos is liable to give away too much in order to reach a deal. In recent weeks, however, Mr. Zuluaga has modified his tone, saying he would be willing to continue the talks if the FARC met a series of conditions, including halting all military activity.
Mr. Zuluaga is backed by Mr. Santos’ arch political rival, Álvaro Uribe, a former president. Mr. Zuluaga received the most votes in a first round of voting last month, with Mr. Santos coming in second in a field of five candidates, setting up Sunday’s runoff contest. Mr. Zuluaga is backed by Mr. Santos’s political archrival, Álvaro Uribe, a former president. Mr. Zuluaga received the most votes in a first round of voting last month, with Mr. Santos coming in second in a field of five candidates, setting up Sunday’s runoff contest.