Former President of Costa Rica and Nobel Peace Prize 1987, Oscar Arias”][/caption]Former President of Costa Rica and Nobel Peace Prize 1987, Oscar Arias, said last week that the ceasefire should be the first step to initiate peace talks between the Colombian government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia ( FARC).
“I firmly believe that negotiations should start on the most controversial issue, which is also the most complex: the cessation of all hostilities,” Arias said in a statement, who said that what happened in Central America to achieve peace in the decade of the 80s.
Arias, former president of Costa Rica in the periods 1986-1990 and 2006-2010, said “there is no point arguing about terms, conditions, amnesties, if there is no agreement to end all forms of violence.”
“To agree to a cease kidnapping, assaults, attacks, would be an elementary demonstration of good faith on the part of the FARC, but also one of the best ways to increase the likelihood that both parties feel committed to bring the negotiations to the end, “said Nobel Prize.
The FARC announced yesterday that it will propose a bilateral ceasefire very beginning of the dialogue, which is scheduled for October 8, but Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos, disagreed from the start with this proposal.
Santos confirmed that he will not accept a ceasefire until they reach a final agreement with the rebel army, took up arms in 1964 and with some 8,500 fighters.
Former President Arias said the “commendable effort” being made by Santos to stop “one of the longest and most painful episodes of violence in the history of Latin America”, so called for “faith, hope, support and collaboration “in the process.
Arias played down the fact that in the past similar efforts have failed in Colombia and said that it is difficult for any international player dares to boycott the peace process in Colombia, so we asked the parties to “no longer to give negotiation. “
“Peace is not the result of impatience. But much less is the result of perfectionism and procrastination. Parties must feel they have time to decide, but that time is not unlimited,” he argued.
The Nobel Peace asked the parties to take the example of the Central American peace process, for which he won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1987, especially “humility, flexibility, nobility and sense of historical responsibility.”
“What we teach processes such as Northern Ireland, such as South Africa, such as Central America, is that peace is not the work of heroes or titans, but imperfect men and women, fighting in difficult times for uncertain outcome, “he said.
Colombia’s Foreign Minister Maria Angela Holguin, held this week visiting Central America, where he said he received support and solidarity for the peace process and where he wanted to soak up the example of peace in countries like El Salvador and Guatemala.
EFE
The Costa Rica News (TCRN)
San Jose Costa Rica
