News

Latest News

Rubio: Suspension Of Colombia Peace Talks A Chilling Reminder Of How Difficult A Lasting Peace Will Be To Achieve

Nov 17, 2014 | Press Releases

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) issued the following statement regarding the Colombian government’s announcement that it is suspending peace talks with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), following the guerilla group’s kidnapping of a Colombian general:

“Earlier this month, I made an official visit to Bogotá where I met with several Colombian government officials to discuss the future of the U.S.-Colombia alliance. While the U.S.-Colombia relationship has many important dimensions to it, particularly on trade, the main issue on everyone’s minds there was the future of peace talks between the Colombian government and the FARC.

“Today’s news that the FARC has kidnapped a Colombian general is a chilling reminder of why a lasting peace with this terrorist group will be extremely difficult to accomplish. Ultimately, whether the talks are renewed or not, the Colombian people will decide what the terms of any peace negotiation look like. The U.S. should support the Colombian government’s suspension of talks and recommit ourselves to ensuring that the FARC, which has terrorized the Colombian people for so long and led millions to flee to Florida and elsewhere, is defeated.”