Leftist rebels see progress in Colombian peace talks

The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) guerrilla group claimed Sunday that some progress has been made in its peace talks with the Colombian government to end conflicts. The two sides have made headway in discussions on rural development, the first of five main issues they agreed to negotiate, chief rebel negotiator Ivan Marquez told reporters before the start of a new round of talks here at the Havana Convention Center. He said he was optimistic about reaching an agreement soon on the issue of agrarian reform, adding that both sides understand the need to increase food security in a country that imports 10 million tons of food a year. To boost agriculture, said Marquez, it is essential to resolve the problem of Colombia's large landholders, an issue that has yet to find a solution after six months of discussion. Sunday marked the beginning of the ninth round of talks between the two sides. The FARC rebels and the Colombian government started peace negotiations on Nov. 19 last year, thanks to mediation efforts by Cuba and Norway, which have served as hosts of such talks. Neighboring Venezuela and Chile also volunteered to observe the discussions. Before reaching a final peace deal, the two sides also have to tackle issues including disarmament of rebels and their political future, reparations for victims, and FARC's links to drug trafficking, a trade the rebels have traditionally taxed to fund their movement.