The Colombian government has confirmed that peace talks with Farc rebels will begin in Oslo in October, in a bid to end one of Latin America's longest-running armed conflicts.
Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos made the announcement that both sides had agreed to the talks, which are scheduled to move to Cuba after Norway.
He called the talks a path to "a definitive peace", adding,
"I ask the Colombian people for patience and strength…There's no doubt it's time to turn the page."
"There are people like me that don't know a single day of peace… We have to take the dream of living in peace and make it a reality."
Farc leader Timochenko also stated that,
"How much death and destruction, how much pain and tears, how much useless bereavement and abuse, how many lives and smiles must be cut before we finally conclude that the end to this isn't conflict but civilized dialogue?"
However, former Colombian President Alvaro Uribe, criticised the move, stating Santos was pandering to "terrorists," and called the talks "grave."
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