Breakdown of Peace Talks Between the Government of Colombia and the FARC, U.S. Embassy Bogotá, February 21, 2002

Breakdown of Peace Talks Between the Government of Colombia and the FARC, State Department, February 21, 2002

Breakdown of Peace Talks Between the Government of Colombia and the FARC

U.S. Department of State
Office of the Spokesman
February 21, 2002
Statement by Richard Boucher, Spokesman

Colombian President Andres Pastrana announced the suspension of the three-year-old peace talks between the Government of Colombian and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) rebels and gave orders to the armed forces to regain control of the demilitarized zone.

President Pastrana and the Colombian government have made every effort to negotiate peace with the FARC. The FARC has failed to respond in good faith to any of President Pastrana's efforts to achieve peace. The United States government understands and supports the decision that President Pastrana has made. We note that President Pastrana's decision has also elicited statements of support from virtually all of Colombia's leading political figures.

On January 20, the Government of Colombia and the FARC reached agreement on a timetable for the peace talks. Since then, the FARC has increased its terrorist attacks. In addition to numerous attacks on military and police installations, the FARC has killed at least 20 innocent civilians, including women and children; been responsible for 4 car bombings; and launched attacks on Colombia's infrastructure, including the city of Bogotá water supply, energy pylons, the Caño Limon-Coveñas pipeline, and bridges. The FARC is also responsible for yesterday's hijacking of a Colombian airliner carrying 35 passengers and the kidnapping of Colombian senator Jorge Eduardo Gechem Turbay, who was taken away into the FARC demilitarized zone.

We are looking at specific ways to continue to support the Government of Colombia during this difficult period. We agree with the Colombian government on the need to prevent other terrorist groups, such as the United Self Defense Forces of Colombia (AUC) and the National Liberation Army (ELN) from exploiting the current situation. We are also in close contact with the Government of Colombia and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to assist with a possible outflow of people leaving the "despeje."

Washington, D.C.
February 21, 2002

As of March 6, 2002, this document was also available online at http://usembassy.state.gov/posts/co1/wwws0049.shtml