Brussels, 05/09/2012 (Agence Europe) - High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton stressed, on Tuesday 4 September, her “great satisfaction” at seeing the Colombian government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) engaging in talks aimed at ending the conflict in the country. “There is now a unique window of opportunity to put an end to this decades-old confrontation which has held back development and inflicted unspeakable suffering on the Colombian people”, Ashton said. “This chance to build peace and bring security and prosperity to all Colombians must not be squandered”, she added, saying that the FARC should seize this moment to take responsibility and prove its sincerity by ceasing its attacks and violations of international humanitarian law.
On Tuesday 4 September the Colombian president, Juan Manuel Santos, announced the opening of peace talks with the FARC, which will begin in the first fortnight of October, in Norway then in Cuba. (CG/transl.fl)