Post by livinginmedellin on Oct 28, 2016 9:17:06 GMT -5
New agreement between government and the FARC would be ready in November according to President Juan Manuel Santos.
Santos believes that a new peace agreement with the FARC may be completed by the end of November and does not rule out calling another referendum to endorse it.
"For it is one of the alternatives that I have at my disposal," he said when asked if he would call a new referendum.
The president recalled that the Colombian Constitutional Court "determined that it could without permission from Congress to call a new referendum", but stressed that as head of state he should "choose the road less divide the country" when endorsing a new agreement.
"I have not ruled none and when we have new agreements, depending on the extent of consensus, because we will determine what path we take," he said.
The president is not afraid to go to the polls again just to take forward its draft peace for Colombia, and confessed he never imagined "that we would have the result that we had," referring to 50.21% with the option of "no" won the popular consultation.
"I think we have lost by such a small margin (50,000 votes) it was better than winning, because if we had won by a small margin this country would be in flames. Instead, we now have the great opportunity to have a better deal and have a more united country, "he said.
That comment refers to the opposition led by Senator Alvaro Uribe, whom Santos invited a "national dialogue" in the speech in which he acknowledged his defeat in the plebiscite.
Days later and for the first time in six years, received Uribe in the Presidential Palace, seat of government, to discuss differences over the peace agreement and seek consensus to negotiate a new agreement with the FARC, in which working again in Havana negotiating teams.
"We have restarted a process that should end soon, in the coming weeks, not months but weeks to implement peace also as soon as possible," he said.
Nobel godsend
At this point in the interview he felt that the Nobel Peace Prize with which he was awarded only five days after losing the plebiscite, "came out of the blue, in a very important moment, because that gave us a new impetus for advance the process "national dialogue.
When asked if the December 10, when receiving the Nobel in Oslo, announce in his acceptance speech this new agreement with the FARC, the President declined to give dates but said it may be earlier.
"I hope this new agreement and at least be on the table by that date, I do not know if implemented, I think implement and require a little more time, or suddenly yes, but the text and a new agreement the goal is it is ready before the end of November, "he said.
As said, it is necessary quickly because "time works against the process" and considered that for Colombia "would be fatal to this break and we return to war with the FARC; It would be a catastrophe. "
The president also referred to the ELN negotiations: "There was a setback the day we were to start this public phase because it did not comply with the release of some hostages. I hope that very soon be given to start it, so I have all the will and the best intentions to move forward with the ELN as well, "he said.
Santos gave the interview on the eve of the XXV Latin American Summit of Heads of State and Government, which will host this Friday in Cartagena and has the theme "Youth, Entrepreneurship and Education", he urged young people to assume a more representative role in society.
"That is very important for our democracy and very important for any society, young people are empowered and take ownership of the big decisions and what more important decision for a country can have than peace?" He said.
See (in Spanish): www.elcolombiano.com/colombia/acuerdos-de-gobierno-y-farc/santos-espera-nuevo-acuerdo-con-farc-en-noviembre-y-no-descarta-otro-plebiscito-KX5257738
Place your bets now --- will Santos do another referendum?
Santos believes that a new peace agreement with the FARC may be completed by the end of November and does not rule out calling another referendum to endorse it.
"For it is one of the alternatives that I have at my disposal," he said when asked if he would call a new referendum.
The president recalled that the Colombian Constitutional Court "determined that it could without permission from Congress to call a new referendum", but stressed that as head of state he should "choose the road less divide the country" when endorsing a new agreement.
"I have not ruled none and when we have new agreements, depending on the extent of consensus, because we will determine what path we take," he said.
The president is not afraid to go to the polls again just to take forward its draft peace for Colombia, and confessed he never imagined "that we would have the result that we had," referring to 50.21% with the option of "no" won the popular consultation.
"I think we have lost by such a small margin (50,000 votes) it was better than winning, because if we had won by a small margin this country would be in flames. Instead, we now have the great opportunity to have a better deal and have a more united country, "he said.
That comment refers to the opposition led by Senator Alvaro Uribe, whom Santos invited a "national dialogue" in the speech in which he acknowledged his defeat in the plebiscite.
Days later and for the first time in six years, received Uribe in the Presidential Palace, seat of government, to discuss differences over the peace agreement and seek consensus to negotiate a new agreement with the FARC, in which working again in Havana negotiating teams.
"We have restarted a process that should end soon, in the coming weeks, not months but weeks to implement peace also as soon as possible," he said.
Nobel godsend
At this point in the interview he felt that the Nobel Peace Prize with which he was awarded only five days after losing the plebiscite, "came out of the blue, in a very important moment, because that gave us a new impetus for advance the process "national dialogue.
When asked if the December 10, when receiving the Nobel in Oslo, announce in his acceptance speech this new agreement with the FARC, the President declined to give dates but said it may be earlier.
"I hope this new agreement and at least be on the table by that date, I do not know if implemented, I think implement and require a little more time, or suddenly yes, but the text and a new agreement the goal is it is ready before the end of November, "he said.
As said, it is necessary quickly because "time works against the process" and considered that for Colombia "would be fatal to this break and we return to war with the FARC; It would be a catastrophe. "
The president also referred to the ELN negotiations: "There was a setback the day we were to start this public phase because it did not comply with the release of some hostages. I hope that very soon be given to start it, so I have all the will and the best intentions to move forward with the ELN as well, "he said.
Santos gave the interview on the eve of the XXV Latin American Summit of Heads of State and Government, which will host this Friday in Cartagena and has the theme "Youth, Entrepreneurship and Education", he urged young people to assume a more representative role in society.
"That is very important for our democracy and very important for any society, young people are empowered and take ownership of the big decisions and what more important decision for a country can have than peace?" He said.
See (in Spanish): www.elcolombiano.com/colombia/acuerdos-de-gobierno-y-farc/santos-espera-nuevo-acuerdo-con-farc-en-noviembre-y-no-descarta-otro-plebiscito-KX5257738
Place your bets now --- will Santos do another referendum?