ROME — An agreement has been signed between the Colombian government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), facilitated by the community of Sant’Egidio. 

  “It shows that peace is still possible, even after a war lasting almost 70 years: now extremism on both sides are convinced” said the president of the community, Marco Impagliazzo. 

  The community of Sant’Egidio has “great satisfaction” from the peace agreement, which was reached in Havana between Colombian President, Juan Manuel Santos, and the leader of the FARC, Rodrigo Londono. 

  The agreement means that the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia will put down their arms within 60 days. 

  In a press conference at the headquarters of the community of Sant’Egidio, the president Marco Impagliazzo retraced the journey of bloody violence in Colombia, recalling “it began almost 70 years ago, in 1949, resulting in 500,000 victims. Colombia, the third most populated country in Latin America, the hinge between the North and the South of the continent, has been dragged into this dramatic cycle of violence for too long.”

  Now, there is finally a light at the end of the tunnel, confirming the view of Sant’Egidio that “peace is always possible”. The community “facilitated the encounter and dialogue between the government and the FARC, along with the commitment to convince the extremists on both sides.” Impagliazzo added that the community will continue to play a role in the process until the final signature.