Colombia: FARC dissidents willing to start peace agreement with Petro’s government

The guerrillas of the dissidents of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) announced today that they are willing to start peace negotiations with the government of President-elect Gustavo Petro.

“The FARC has proposed, by conception and conviction, the political solution to the violence unleashed by the State; for this reason, we invite the new Government headed by Dr. Gustavo Petro and Dr. Francia Márquez as genuine representatives of the aspirations of the popular classes, so that in common agreement we create a favorable climate for a bilateral ceasefire agreement,” they said.

The rebel group’s announcement was made by insurgent leader Néstor Gregorio Vera, known by the aliases of “Iván Lozada” or “Iván Mordisco”, who in a video indicated that he would be the FARC’s main negotiator. However, the government said that this insurgent leader was killed last month, and the video was recorded before his death.

“From now on, our plenipotentiaries are ready, headed by comrade Ivan Lozada. We are sure that among us, we will not let the most backward sectors of this country take advantage,” the announcement said.

Initially, Colombian Foreign Minister-designate Álvaro Leyva revealed that the administration of President-elect Gustavo Petro wants “total peace” and, to that end, will initiate peace negotiations with the guerrillas of the National Liberation Army (ELN), FARC dissidents, and eventually with the Gulf Clan.

Gustavo Petro will be sworn in next Sunday in a ceremony to be held in the historic Plaza de Bolivar.

With information from Xinhua

More: Colombia news in English, every day from The Rio Times.