Colombia and FARC sign historic pact ending 52-year war

Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos and Marxist rebel leader Timochenko used a pen made from a bullet on Monday to sign an agreement ending a half-century war that killed a quarter of a million people and made their nation a byword for violence.
After four years of negotiations in Havana, Santos, 65, and Timochenko - a nom de guerre for 57-year-old revolutionary Rodrigo Londono - shook hands on Monday on Colombian soil for the first time.
Some 2,500 foreign and local dignitaries attended the ceremony in the walled, colonial city of Cartagena.
The agreement to end Latin America's longest-running conflict turns the FARC fighters into a political party fighting at the ballot box instead of the battlefield they have occupied since 1964.
The special pen was used "to illustrate the transition of bullets into education and future", said Santos, who staked his reputation on achieving peace.

Colombia and FARC set to sign historic peace pact

Guests included United Nations chief Ban Ki-moon, Cuban President Raul Castro, US Secretary of State John Kerry and victims of the conflict.
"The UN will assist in the implementation of the accord and offer Colombians our complete support at a time that sees a new destiny for the nation," Ban said.
The European Union said on Monday it was removing the group from its "terror" list simultaneously with the peace signing.
Kerry lauded the deal during a visit to a training centre for war victims, ex-combatants and other young people.
"Anybody can pick up a gun, blow things up, hurt other people, but it doesn't take you anywhere ... Peace is hard work," he said.
The US Department of State has pledged $390m for Colombia next year to support the peace process. Washington would also review whether to take the FARC off its list of "terrorist organizations", Kerry said.
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2016/09/colombia-farc-sign-historic-pact-52-year-war-160926211928052.html