Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos Predicts Peace Accord by March

QUESTION: And your meeting today with President Santos?

Mr Santos announced that a final peace agreement would be signed within six months.

In reaction to a ultraviolent crackdown on peasant organizations, the FARC militarized in 1964.

He’s also seen his once-sterling reputation tarnished by the conviction or investigation of a several former allies for illegally wiretapping political opponents and ties to right-wing militias he negotiated a peace deal with while in power.

Uribe told The Associated Press that it’s incoherent for the USA and Europe to demand jail time for terrorists from Spanish separatist group ETA, the Irish Republican Army or al-Qaida but expect Colombia to demonstrate leniency with guerrillas he says are behind scores of atrocities during the country’s long-running conflict.

In a magazine interview more than a year ago, he denied he was a drug trafficker but he admitted that he had collected “a tax on cocaine” so as to “finance the war”.

And while the recent handshake between President Santos and FARC leader Rodrigo Londono “Timochenko” Echeverri had many media outlets calling it a “breakthrough” and a “historic” moment, there doesn’t seem to be a plan for those waiting to return home.

The government opposed publication now because the document is subject to change, a government spokeswoman said. He projected a Robin Hood image, sharing a few wealth with local people while putting numerous police, soldiers and local politicians on his payroll, US and Colombian officials say. A video of Santos’s talk can be seen here.

The special jurisdiction would have the power to oversee cases concerning crimes committed within the context of the war against former guerrillas and guerrilla leaders along with agents of the State from any regional and national security agency.

Those who confess to crimes will receive reduced sentences of five to eight years, they will not be extradited to the United States, and they will be permitted to enter politics.

Santos recently ordered a halt to air raids against FARC rebel camps but previously bristled at a complete ceasefire until peace is signed. He said his 8,000-strong fighting force would dedicate its time to political and cultural activities and cease military exercises.

“I truly appreciate the step that the FARC have taken today”. “Timochenko” mirrored Santos’ words and expressed a “great satisfaction” over the agreement.

“We’ll fight with or without support”.

The two then unexpectedly shook hands while wearing traditional Cuban guayabera shirts, with Castro in the middle binding the two sides together, in a gesture that would have seemed absolutely impossible in the past.

“The most hard decision in any peace process is where to draw the line between peace and justice”, Mr. Santos said Thursday in an interview with The Wall Street Journal in New York.