UN secretary general praises Cuba for hosting Colombia government, FARC peace talks

The secretary general of the United Nations (UN) stressed the importance of the ongoing peace talks in Havana, Cuba between Colombia’s government and the country’s largest rebel group, the FARC during the UN’s 50th annual Group of 77 (G77) Summit on Sunday.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon met with Cuba’s President Raul Castro at the G77 Summit in Bolivia to offer him praise on being the country to host the peace talks between the FARC and the Colombian government, according to a UN press release.

The secretary general expressed hope that with these peace talks, Colombia’s 50-year armed conflict could finally be put to an end.

Last week, Colombia’s President Juan Manuel Santos announced initiating exploratory peace talks with the country’s second largest guerrilla group, the ELN.

MORE: Colombia govt, ELN rebels announce formal peace talks

“Combined with the ongoing talks with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), the secretary general hopes that this new development will contribute to ending the hemisphere’s longest armed conflict and to building a sustainable peace for the Colombian people,” said a UN spokesman.

MORE: UN secretary general hopeful that peace talks with ELN will help end armed conflict

Peace talks between the FARC and the Colombian government have been ongoing since November 2012 and are currently being held in Havana, Cuba.

So far, both parties have agreed upon issues of agrarian reform, political participation rights, and illicit drugs. Talks are currently underway regarding the issue of victims’ rights.

The G77 Summit was established in 1964 by 77 states to promote its countries’ economic interests. The group now includes more than 130 countries, some two-thirds of the UN membership, and over 60% of the world’s population, according to the UN press release.