Colombian Government and FARC-EP Closer to Final Peace Accord

HAVANA, Cuba, Sept 23 (acn) We are closer to achieving the peace that the Colombian people deserves and has longed for, asserted in this capital Army General Raul Castro, President of the Cuban councils of State and Ministers, during the signing ceremony of a joint communique between the Colombian government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia-People's Army (FARC-EP).

In the presence of the President of Colombia, Juan Manuel Santos, and Timoleon Jimenez, Chief of Staff of the FARC-EP, whom Raul congratulated for the important agreements announced, highlighted the respect, absolute impartiality, firm support, solidarity, and discretion that will continue characterizing Cuba's modest contribution to this process.
Talks are on the right track; these agreements represent a significant step forward, Raul stressed.
He asserted that Cuba will not rest until the longed for goal of peace for "beloved Colombia" is achieved -a commitment made by the heads of State and Government at the 2nd Summit of the CELAC, when they signed the Proclamation of Latin America and the Caribbean as a Peace Zone.
Meanwhile, Santos said that in six months, at the very latest, these negotiations should conclude, and the final agreement to end a war that has lasted almost six decades and "achieve a stable and lasting peace" should be signed.
He announced that the Special Jurisdiction of Justice will ensure that war crimes do not go unpunished, for which a courtroom and a court that will impose penalties for crimes committed will be created.
"This is a major achievement," said the Colombian president.
He said that the task will not be easy and recalled the words of Pope Francis in Havana, where he wished for the final reconciliation of the Colombian people and warned that another failure in this path can not be afforded.
"We will not fail, it's time for peace," underlined Santos.
Timoleon Jimenez expressed great satisfaction at the successful conclusion of an understanding about the Special Jurisdiction for Peace, which will generate an environment conducive to progress in the remaining subjects.
He noted that the parties must redouble their efforts to build a consensus that will contribute to bilateral ceasefire and bring the transformation of the FARC-EP into a legal political movement closer.
In this sense, Santos acknowledged and appreciated the step taken by the guerrilla movement, "we are adversaries, we are in different shores, but today we moved in the same direction -that of peace."
The joint communique was signed by the heads of delegations to the negotiating table, Humberto de la Calle, representing the Colombian government, and Ivan Marquez, representing the FARC-EP, and representatives of the guarantor countries, Cuba and Norway, and the accompanying nations, Chile and Venezuela, whose performance in this process was recognized by both President Santos and Commander Jimenez.