Colombia presidential candidate drops threat to end FARC talks

[Zorro]

Colombian presidential candidate Oscar Ivan Zuluaga, who faces incumbent Juan Manuel Santos in a run-off vote, on Thursday dropped his threat to end peace talks with Marxist rebels if elected, softening his stance on the election's most pivotal issue.

The right-wing Zuluaga won the most votes in a first round vote on Sunday but not enough to avoid a run-off set for June 15. He is now neck and neck with Santos, a poll showed on Thursday, raising the suspense in the Andean nation's tightest election in years.

Zuluaga told Caracol radio that if elected, he would still demand that the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, cease combat and criminal activity to continue the talks Santos initiated in late 2012, but would no longer immediately suspend talks as he promised previously.

Zuluaga did not say how long he would give FARC to declare a ceasefire, a condition it has rejected until now, but said he softened his stance at the request of Conservative Party leader Marta Lucia Ramirez in exchange for her support in the run-off vote campaign.

http://news.yahoo.com/colombia-presidential-candidate-drops-threat-end-farc-talks-040937978.html

[Bacchus4.0]

1. The correct course of action

Whether the FARC stays at the table with whoever wins is another question.

[Zorro]

2. The possibility of a Zuluaga presidency

might motivate the FARC to make a deal with Santos.

Zuluaga's popularity is a sign that many Colombians despise the FARC.

[Marksman_91]

3. There's actually no reason NOT to despise them

The reason why the "peaceful" solution isn't very popular is because Colombians see the FARC as nothing more than a narco-terrorist band of kidnappers. It's kind of hard to reach a peaceful solution to end the conflict when they outright use terrorist and criminal tactics to "fight".

[Bacchus4.0]

4. I am thinking the FARC would cease negotiations if Zuluaga wins

just because...Uribe you know. FARC can't be trusted and a win by Zuluaga would be their "excuse" for quitting negotiations. Not that Colombians should vote based on what the FARC might do. I just have a hunch.

But Zuluaga is wise to put it in the FARC's court, and not be blamed for the failure of the peace process.

[Bacchus4.0]

5. WHen is the second round? Thats a good point, they might strike a deal before then n/t