Colombia says it will resume peace talks with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC.
Colombian government lead negotiator Humberto De la Calle said the talks with the rebels will re-open Monday in Havana.
"After a meeting, it was carefully noted that the FARC had made the decision to return on Monday at half past eight in the morning to the talks table to continue deliberations as normal," De La Calle sais. "Because of that, after noting it, the president has instructed us on the decision to return tomorrow to Havana to continue talks on a search for an end to the conflict."
The negotiations were suspended Friday when FARC said it would need time to study the government's draft bill that would require any peace deal with the guerrillas to be put to a popular vote.
De la Calle defended the referendum, saying that it should be the Colombian people who make the final decision on the agreements reached from the talks.
He said however, that FARC has acknowledged the pain suffered by their victims and the need for reparations.
"(The FARC have) acknowledged how they have caused pain in Colombia and there is an attitude (meaning an openness) for reparations to victims. That is an issue that is very important for us," De La Calle sais. "And therefore, after all these considerations, we will return to Havana".
The FARC, the oldest active guerrilla army in the Western Hemisphere, is considered a terrorist organization by the United States and European Union.
Colombian government lead negotiator Humberto De la Calle said the talks with the rebels will re-open Monday in Havana.
"After a meeting, it was carefully noted that the FARC had made the decision to return on Monday at half past eight in the morning to the talks table to continue deliberations as normal," De La Calle sais. "Because of that, after noting it, the president has instructed us on the decision to return tomorrow to Havana to continue talks on a search for an end to the conflict."
The negotiations were suspended Friday when FARC said it would need time to study the government's draft bill that would require any peace deal with the guerrillas to be put to a popular vote.
De la Calle defended the referendum, saying that it should be the Colombian people who make the final decision on the agreements reached from the talks.
He said however, that FARC has acknowledged the pain suffered by their victims and the need for reparations.
"(The FARC have) acknowledged how they have caused pain in Colombia and there is an attitude (meaning an openness) for reparations to victims. That is an issue that is very important for us," De La Calle sais. "And therefore, after all these considerations, we will return to Havana".
The FARC, the oldest active guerrilla army in the Western Hemisphere, is considered a terrorist organization by the United States and European Union.
