Accessibility links

Breaking News
USA

Biden: US Stands with Colombia in Peace Talks with Rebels


U.S. Vice President Joe Biden, right, shakes hands with Colombia's President Juan Manuel Santos after giving a joint news conference at the presidential palace in Bogota, Colombia, June 18, 2014
U.S. Vice President Joe Biden, right, shakes hands with Colombia's President Juan Manuel Santos after giving a joint news conference at the presidential palace in Bogota, Colombia, June 18, 2014
U.S. Vice President Joe Biden says the United States stands with Colombia as it negotiates peace with leftist rebels.

Biden was in Bogota Wednesday for talks with newly re-elected President Juan Manuel Santos, who said U.S. support in the peace process is of great importance.

Biden said nothing would make him happier than to be able to return to Colombia to witness the signing of a final peace deal.

Santos said earlier this month that talks with FARC rebels which began in November are in their final stages.

He also said the government has opened talks with Colombia's second-largest rebel group, the National Liberation Army.

For about 50 years, both groups have been waging a guerilla war against the Colombian government, killing more than 200,000 people.

The United States has spent billions helping Colombia fight the rebels.
  • 16x9 Image

    VOA News

    The Voice of America provides news and information in more than 40 languages to an estimated weekly audience of over 326 million people. Stories with the VOA News byline are the work of multiple VOA journalists and may contain information from wire service reports.

XS
SM
MD
LG