Peace talks between the Colombian government and representatives of guerrilla group FARC have been delayed yet again due to “logistical difficulties”, reported local media Monday.
Negotiators from both parties have delayed their arrival for peace talks in the Norwegian capital of Oslo, however it has been reported that they will still attend a news conference on Wednesday.
Officials from the Norwegian government, which has agreed to be a guarantor for the peace process, failed to comment on the latest delay other than to confirm that the two groups will appear for the public event on Wednesday.
While the exact reasons for the delay have not been confirmed, Colombian media reported that government negotiators were unable to travel out of Bogota on Sunday due to poor weather conditions at the airport.
This is not the first time peace talks between the two parties have been postponed. Negotiations were originally scheduled to begin on October 8, however they have been continually delayed due to legal complications.
In late September, judicial authorities were delayed in suspending arrest warrants of rebel negotiators. That is, prosecutors apparently needed more time to clear the way for the rebel negotiators, who together faced 340 arrest warrants and convictions.
Once this phase of negotiations has been completed in Norway, talks will continue in Havana, Cuba.
Both parties have expressed the desire to seek an end Colombia’s 48-year-old armed conflict within the coming months. The last serious attempt at a negotiated peace settlement with FARC failed ten years ago during the administration of Andres Pastrana (1998-2002).
