Havana, July 28, 2013

Good morning.

Today we reinitiate a new round of negotiations aimed at impelling agreements on the political participation of unarmed guerrillas.

Many Colombians do not understand why we are negotiating when armed groups continue to commit attacks.

One must remember once again that the government’s decision not to agree to a ceasefire, except of course at the end of the conflict, when we reach an agreement, for several reasons: we want to end the war, not extend it.

Precisely we are looking for an agreement to end the war, so that there is no more violence. To prevent more unnecessary deaths.

On the other hand, the government and security forces continue to fulfill their duty and constitutional responsibility throughout the national territory to defend Colombians, our democracy and the heritage of the nation.

Consequently, these conversations, as President Santos said this week, are happening in the middle of the conflict. There is no ceasefire.

We recall with admiration and respect our military and police for their sacrifice on behalf of Colombia.

To their families we give our words of encouragement and solidarity.

The guerrilla must answer for everything that has happened in the conflict.

I want to remember why we are negotiating here in Havana: This is not a process for FARC to make policies, nor a process to agree to end the conflict.

If we agree on a final agreement, they may make policy, without weapons, democratically, once they are demobilized.

We have already reached an agreement on the first point of the agenda of these talks, the agricultural issue.

We said in the joint statement released at the time, that as this agreement states ‘will usher in radical changes in the rural and agrarian reality of Colombia with equity and democracy’.

And in the statement I made to the public I pointed out that the agreement exceeds the vision of an agrarian reform and seeks to create real changes to close the gap between the rural and urban parts of the country.

This is it exactly:

To transform the reality of our countryside once we agree to the end of the war.

To create concrete benefits for the progress of our farmers and agro entrepreneurs.

To bring the presence of the State and all its institutions to rural areas.

In response to the displaced and those who have suffered the theft of their land.

With this particular result we move forward and feel the support of the Colombian people.

I want to reiterate that when we finalize the discussion of the six points of the agenda and we have a general agreement, it will be submitted to the referendum of Colombians.

At that time everyone will know in its entirety the agreement that should mark the end of the conflict and can rule on it after an extensive public discussion.

The final word on these possible agreements will be had by Colombians themselves, each and every Colombian.

You decide whether to accept the agreement here in Havana.

As I said, we are currently discussing the second point of the Agenda on political participation and citizen participation.

It is to create the conditions and provide the necessary guarantees for the FARC to be transformed into a legal political organization that can exercise opposition through democracy.

No more combination of all forms of struggle in Colombia. No more politics and weapons together.

We want a true peace that allows true citizen participation, that which is done without intimidation and without weapons.

That which legitimate leaders of the community do with speeches and ideas and not with guns.

That which demanding rights does, but also respects democratic duties.

The conversations should generate obligations for both parties. They are not just for the State to provide assurances.

They also correspond to the FARC to provide. So that the violence ceases.

So that the victims are at the center of their concerns. So that every citizen can make policy without intimidation.

We want a peace sustained in justice, truth and reparation, that responds to victims.

A peace supported by the majority of Colombians.

The agreed Agenda gives a concrete framework for these conversations. We will not broaden it.

We hope that the FARC will assist with the same will of the Government: moving forward expeditiously in the construction of agreements to end the conflict.

This and no other is our mission in the Conversations Table.

We will not sign any agreement that does not make Colombia safer.

It is what Colombians hope.

 

[Student translation]

Source:
http://wsp.presidencia.gov.co/Prensa/2013/Julio/Paginas/20130728_01-propaz-Intervencion-de-Humberto-de-la-Calle-Jefe-de-la-Delegacion-del-Gobierno-en-la-Mesa-de-Conversaciones.aspx