Colombian President confirms contact with rebel FARC

Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos confirmed Monday that his government has contacted in Cuba with leaders of the rebel Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) as a first step to start peace talks. In a televised address, Santos said government and rebel representatives have conducted “exploratory talks” in Havana and signed an agreement to initiate peace talks on Oct. 5 in Oslo, Norway, hoping to end the decade-long conflict between the two sides. Santos said more details of the contact would be released later, adding that military operations against the FARC would continue “on every single centimeter of national territory” even in the peace process. Later on Monday, Santos met with former President Cesar Gaviria, who media outlets predict would be named as a government negotiator in the dialogue with the FARC. Gaviria, a veteran diplomat, also served as secretary general of the Organization of American States from 1994 to 2004. The FARC is Colombia’s largest rebel group with about 9,000 members. Although it suffered serious defeats in fightings with government troops from 2000 to 2010, it has recently increased hit-and-run attacks, especially on oil and mining facilities.