Brussels, 05/11/2014 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday 5 November, several European leaders gave their support to Colombia's President Juan Manuel Santos Calderon in the negotiations that the Colombian authorities are conducting with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC). Santos is currently touring Europe.
“After more than 50 years of conflict, more than 200,000 casualties, more than 25,000 missing people and 5 million internally displaced people, the time for peace has come. As Colombia enters the final stage of negotiations, it needs the political and financial backing of all those who seek a peaceful and lasting solution for the country”, said European Parliament President Martin Schulz after meeting Santos. Outgoing European Council President Herman Van Rompuy praised the “courageous” negotiations led by Santos to put an end to dozens of years of violence. “The EU will continue to lend its support to the Havana negotiations between the Colombian government and the FARC” and will provide “concrete assistance to Colombia in the implementation of the peace agreement once negotiations are concluded”, said Van Rompuy.
The two men welcome the opening of negotiations between the European Commission and Colombia for an agreement on visa exemption with the EU (see EUROPE 11187).
The same day, several MEPs - including Jordi Sebastià (Greens/EFA, Spain) - called on the EU not to hurry towards granting a blank cheque to the Colombian authorities before a peace agreement with the FARC is signed and given over to international monitoring. They criticised the violations of human rights, the expropriations and laws favouring impunity. (MB)