US President Barack Obama spoke by phone with Santos on Wednesday to congratulate him on the deal, the White House said.
Advertisement
Part of the plan to help the FARC fighters includes paying them 90 percent of Colombia’s minimum wage as they emerge from their strongholds.
This means that Colombians will have to swallow some bitter pills if voting in favor of peace with the country’s oldest and largest rebel group.
“I want my grandchildren to see peace”, said Alba Gomez, who was driven from her home by the FARC a decade ago.
It was under Bill Clinton’s presidency that the USA began pumping billions in anti-narcotics and counterinsurgency aid to Colombia’s government.
But the leftist rebel group were hit hard by Uribe’s government from 2002, when he launched a US-backed offensive that killed many guerrilla leaders and halved their ranks.
A ceremony in Havana saw the two sides shake on the deal applauded by Cuba’s foreign minister whose government with Norway have facilitated the talks.
The peace deal comprises six agreements reached at each step of the arduous negotiations.
If Colombia votes yes in the plebiscite, this means Santos and FARC leader “Timochenko” will sign the agreement after which the FARC immediately will begin their demobilization and disarmament under the supervision of the United Nations. “It is in this spirit that I stood alongside President Santos earlier this year and announced a new chapter in our relationship, Peace Colombia, which will provide a framework to reinforce security gains, reintegrate former combatants into society and extend opportunity and the rule of law”.
It also took resource-rich Colombia to the brink of collapse.
The landmark deal will still need to be approved by a majority of Colombians in a referendum set for October 2.
“We think we’ve done the best possible job, but it’s the Colombians who will judge us”, chief government negotiator Humberto de la Calle said.
Although polls show approval is likely, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia is deeply unpopular and many voters may prefer a scenario that would allo.
“The Colombian government and the FARC announce that we have reached a final, full and definitive accord”, a joint statement read.
“We worked for peace in Colombia, a dream which is now becoming reality”, Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos said at the time.
Much of the text hammered out during four years of grueling talks had already been published previously.
Advertisement
“The signing of the accord is an historic moment”. He recalled that the putting down of weapons and the implementation of the bilateral ceasefire will start after the ceremonial signing of the agreement between the warring sides.
