Colombia’s bishops welcome talks between government, rebels

August 30, 2012

The Episcopal Conference of Colombia has welcomed President Juan Manuel Santos’s decision to engage in peace talks with rebel forces.

The decades-old conflict between the government and rebel forces has led an estimated three million Colombians to flee their homes.

“We offer our strong support to this initiative of the government,” the bishops said in their statement. The bishops also pledged to s“contribute to the search for peace, fostering a climate of forgiveness and reconciliation among all Colombians, and facilitate the meeting and agreement between the government, civil society and the different protagonists of the armed conflict.”

 

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Further information:

• Iglesia Recibe Con Esperanza Conversaciones Exploratorias Para Un Proceso De Paz (Conferencia Episcopal de Colombia)
• "Decisive support" of the Bishops in the talks of the government with the rebels for a negotiating table of peace (Fides)
• Analysis: Colombians hopeful over 'exploratory talks,' but there is no easy path to peace (AP)