The President of Colombia, Juan Manuel Santos, said on Wednesday officially candidate for reelection in 2014, putting forward the peace process with the FARC guerrillas, fighting for nearly a half-century against the authorities.
“When we see the light at the end of the tunnel, you cannot turn back,” said Mr. Santos, in a televised address, referring to negotiations initiated under his government last year with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC).
“My duty as President, my obligation as Colombian, is not allowing us to lose all that these efforts have yielded”, stressed the head of state, citing a “great opportunity to reach a Colombia in peace.”
Talks with the FARC, which takes place in several cycles in Cuba, a country guarantor of the peace process aimed at ending the oldest conflict in Latin America, which made hundreds of thousands of victims.
Discussions have already led to two partial agreements on the need for land reform, a point to the origin of the birth of the FARC in 1964, as well as participation of the Marxist movement in politics, once the peace restored.
Center-right leader, Mr. Santos, who will run for a new term of four years, was elected in 2010 with the support of his predecessor Alvaro Uribe, remained very popular for its firm policy towards the guerrillas.
In power between 2002 and 2010, it has since been converted to its fiercest opponent, accusing him of “treason” for opening a dialogue with the FARC, the main rebel country, which still has, according to the authorities, some 8,000 fighters, folded mainly in rural areas.
President Santos has also mentioned “security policy successful” Uribe, of which he was the Minister of Defense, participating front line military setbacks inflicted on the guerrillas, including military raid in which number two Raul Reyes of FARC was killed in 2008 or the release operation, the same year of Franco-Colombian hostage Ingrid Betancourt.
Since the opening of dialogue with the FARC, the Head of State has ruled out a cease-fire, as requested by the guerrillas, before sealing a final agreement. The negotiations will resume on November 28, must now address the issue of drug trafficking, compensation for victims and abandoned weapons.
“Today I want to give that same opportunity to consolidate peace and prosperity of the country,” he added, referring to the legacy of his predecessor.
Faced in recent months with strong social tensions, Mr. Santos has recently seen his popularity plummet. However, advances obtained with the FARC have earned him a renewed credit (36% approval rating according to a survey released last week by Gallup).
Opinion polls also the place for the time ahead in the polls for the presidential election, the first round will take place in May and the second round in June if necessary. Previously Colombians go to the polls in March parliamentary elections, where Uribe himself will vie for Senate seat.
The former president, prevented by the Constitution to represent a third time at the head of the country, has recently founded his own party, the Democratic Centre, which has already invested as Oscar Ivan Zuluaga presidential candidate, 68, a former minister Economics.
Colombia: President Santos candidate for reelection in 2014
No comments:
Post a Comment