Euronews: Mr. President Juan Santos Mamuel

Columbia was launched two years since the peace negotiations with the FARC organization in Cuba to stop the current armed conflict since fifty years. Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos wants to bring peace to the country within the framework of international support. Euronews: Mr. President thank you for accepting our invitation to come to the studios and Euronews in Brussels. Juan Santos Mamuel: Thank you for giving me this opportunity. Euronews: Taulon on political and financial support of the European Union, what is the amount that you aspire to get it by Europe? Juan Santos Mamuel: This visit aims mainly to get political support for ending the negotiations, which depends on two conditions Assabeyen key and at the same time, the first relates to the support of the international community that we will take all the decisions to bring peace to the country, and this support is very important. The second condition has do to the financial side, where we seek to create an institutional fund of the European Union to finance projects during the post-conflict phase. The amount has not yet been determined, and I am currently not looking at the time the obligations of these financial resources. Euronews: You spoke before the United Nations General Assembly a few months ago, and you say you are very close to reaching a peace with the FARC, do you think that this is possible? Juan Manuel Santos: It is impossible to predict but I hope that this agreement is reached as soon as possible, the more the sooner we finish these negotiations, we will we save more lives and spare suffering. Euronews: Do you still have hope to do this through this year? Mamuel Juan Santos: In fact, I do not think so, would not reach the end of the negotiations this year, but I hope that we end the conflict as soon as possible. Euronews: You say that you are in a crucial stage of negotiations. What are the challenges you face? Juan Manuel Santos: the most complex issues, and harder to relate to the points of the victims and what is known of justice during the transition period and how this justice must be applied to achieve peace. It is the essence of the problem in any armed conflict. Euronews: Mr. President, can you tell us if you have the intention to address the other issues during this visit to Europe? What are the priority projects that need financing? Juan Manuel Santos: peace in Colombia is not only in favor of Colombians and I will benefit the region and the world. There is a special item on the agenda related to the fight against drug trafficking. We agreed that the gangs are working with the Colombian government to replace the cultivation of illicit cocaine cultivation and an end to drug trafficking. Colombia is the largest source of cocaine in the world, is also about Europe and global markets. Imagine what this means. Fighters who were Azraon and export cocaine will assist the government to end this. There are also very positive on the fight against climate change and the impact of deforestation efforts. Colombia is the world's richest countries in terms of biodiversity. Euronews: This fund will also contribute to resist social disparities? Juan Manuel Santos: Of course, it is the policy that we adoption. During the past four years, Colombia has been the country that has the lowest poverty rate, among the Latin American countries. Still have a lot. My goal is to see the basic Colombia in the future as a country to live in peace, with justice and improve education. Euronews: to get back to the issue of drug trafficking. According to the United Nations report, Colombia cocaine production has reduced by 13 per cent over the past year, as has been maintained, cultivated, and you mentioned that Colombia is the main product. In addition to the expected support of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, what are the measures taken by the government to combat this illegal farming and drug trafficking? Juan Manuel Santos: We had some successes because these big bands that existed before, and affected the Colombian democracy, no longer exist. Each drug barons in jail or Tovuoa. But this trade still exist in Europe and the United States or the international market due to the high demand for cocaine, and so long as The offer will continue. Euronews: According to the latest reports, the FARC organization apologized to the victims. Mr. President, Can the elements of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia access to the Parliament and to participate in political life? There is a lot of criticism on this subject. Juan Manuel Santos: This is exactly what we're talking about when we want peace. Abandonment of weapons, violence and resort to the practice of politics in the framework of democratic means. It comes to this in the framework of the peace process. Sit in parliament or not the issue will take into account the terms of the agreement, and the goal is to continue in the political struggle, but without weapons and violence. Euronews: A sensitive points in the peace negotiations, the issue of disarmament, what is your opinion about this? Some talk about the abandonment of weapons, but without the delivery to the authorities? Juan Manuel Santos: This is part of the negotiations is quite clear that there is a lower probability that the fighters and insurgents continue to fight in weapons policy. It is between the red lines that can not be accepted, and they know it. Euronews: Will we see images gangs, handing their weapons to the government? Juan Manuel Santos: at the present time is not of the government, this is not important, there may be another hand, it is important that we do not accept the practice of politics by weapons, this is not possible and should not be happening. Euronews: How will the impact of this peace agreement on the Colombian economy? Juan Manuel Santos: economic and social benefits are very high. Appreciate the additional growth of the economy at a rate of 2 per cent. Colombia rapid state in Latin America. During the first half of this year, the growth rate reached 5 per cent. If we succeed in bringing peace, we can get to 7.2 percent in addition to development Starafha rural areas in the country, and improve social services. For example, victims of displacement due to armed conflict reached 6 million or more and it is very difficult to vouch for them and provide services to them in case they do not return to their villages. Euronews: Where did the negotiations with the National Liberation Army fighters? Juan Manuel Santos: there are secret negotiations to ensure the credibility of the project, as we did with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, FARC, you must specify the agenda points which proceed in order to reach an agreement and end the conflict. Euronews: Do you think that is to reach a unified and common agreement similar to the peace agreement for the private Balfarc? Juan Manuel Santos: Yes, this is possible, and I aspire to that. Euronews: Juan Manuel Santos, President of Colombia, thank you very much. Juan Manuel Santos: Thank you. Copyright © 2014 euronews