Colombia 'committed' to deal with FARC

By Lokman Ilhan

BOGOTA, Colombia

Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos reiterated Thursday his government's commitment to the peace agreement signed with the former FARC guerrillas.

The peace deal was achieved last year with what was the country’s largest armed guerrilla group, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC.

Santos was rewarded last month with the 2017 Chatham House Award by Prince Andrew of England "in recognition of his role in formally ratifying a peace agreement with the FARC rebel group and bringing an end to the armed conflict in Colombia."

The president pointed out that sticking to the peace agreement was a "state promise."

Last year, Santos was also awarded the Nobel Peace Prize “for his resolute efforts to bring the country's more than 50-year-long civil war to an end."

However, when FARC brokered peace with the government many Colombians called it an “incomplete peace”.

Santos said many had to be convinced that there was never a perfect peace agreement and that the deal was the best way.

In June, FARC finally laid down their weapons after the conflict that killed more than 260,000 victims and displaced 7 million others.

Presidential elections are scheduled for March 2018 and as agreed upon in last year's peace accord FARC will receive five seats each in the Senate and Congress. This cements the group’s evolution from a military to a political force.