Colombian peace deal may not be reached by deadline

(Vatican Radio)  One of the senior negotiators of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, better known as the FARC, warns that a final peace settlement with the Colombian Government can't be reached by March 23rd deadline.  

Listen to James Blears' report:

The announcement that the March peace dealine isn't going to be met, comes from Jesús Santrich, one of the FARC's senior negotiators. The talks towards a settlement have been dragging on for three years in Havana Cuba.

Colombia's President Juan Manuel Santos who's politically staked everything on peace, had insisted on that dealine - physically going there and shaking hands to supposedly set it - with the FARC's leadership.

Now the FARC tells Colombian media that it's simply not practically possible in the given time frame, blaming the Goverment side of negotiators for backtracking on firm accords, which had already been agreed upon.  The government teams deny this.

Resulting disappointment and disillusionment, but perhaps not surprise coming out of this, will deal a significant, but hopefully not lasting blow to the quest for peace.

This conflict, which is the oldest in the Americas,  started back in 1964.

It's killed thousands, displaced millions, critically holding back deveopment in a country, which has also known great heartache due to the scourge of cocaine.