Colombian goverment, FARC agree on anti-drug issue in peace talks

The Colombian government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) guerrilla group on Thursday closed the 20th round of peace talks held in Havana, Cuba, with some agreements on the thorny issue of drug-trafficking. The two parties said in a joint statement they are "committed" to finding a "definite solution to the problem of illegal crops. For the moment, we can say we have the first draft of the solution guidelines." The statement revealed both have agreed that plans to replace illegal crops of coca plants, marijuana and poppies should be part of the integral land reform of Colombia. The drugs issue is one of the five points of the peace talks between the two parties, and the next round will begin on Feb. 24 in Havana's Convention Center. FARC is largely financed by the illegal drugs trade. The talks between the Colombian government and FARC started in November 2012. In previous rounds, both parties reached agreements on rural land development and political participation of the guerrilla group, the two first points of the agenda.