Colombian president confirms intent to enter into truce with FARC from Jan. 1

Colombia's President Juan Manuel Santos said Wednesday he intended to accept proposals from the guerrilla Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) to bring into force a bilateral truce from Jan. 1.

"FARC and the government have both agreed to do all possible to sign the peace agreement before the 23 of March," Santos said in a speech from the presidential palace.

Santos said the fifth point on the negotiating table is "to be able to sign a bilateral and internationally monitored ceasefire agreement taking effect from January 1," which was put forward by the FARC head Rodrigo Londono Echeverri.

"Let's make an effort to assure by December 31 we can finish the fifth agenda point and bring an end to the conflict," he added.

"Why don't we give a good Christmas or New Year's gift to the country," he said, noting that he had the political will to proceed in that direction.

Santos also said a delegation of the Congress will travel to Havana this week to inform the rebels of legislative procedures to be carried out in relation to the peace process.

The Colombian government entered into peace talks with the FARC, which was founded in 1964 in the aftermath of a peasant uprising, in Havana, Cuba almost three years ago.

Until now, the two sides have come to agreements on agricultural development, political participation of the rebels, abandonment of illegal drugs by the FARC and a search for missing people.

Over the past more than 50 years, an estimated 220,000 people have been killed and more than 6 million others displaced in the conflict in the South American country. Endit