The Peace Process in Colombia: Challenges of Implementation

May 30, 2017 - 6:00 pm

Recital Hall
The Graduate Center, CUNY

Conversatorio
“Acuerdo de Paz en Colombia: Desafíos del Posconflicto”
con
Humberto de la Calle Lombana
Exjefe del equipo negociador del Gobierno colombiano con las FARC

This event will be in Spanish

The peace agreement negotiated by President Santos (with Humberto De la Calle as the chief negotiator) between 2012 and 2016 led to Santos becoming the sole recipient of the 2016 Noble Peace Award, while Pope Francis and the Catholic Church have been heartily supporting the peace process through a global campaign “Taking the First Step”/”Demos el Primer Paso” [for peace] and the announced papal visit to Colombia September 2017. Likewise, international organizations (e.g. the UN system, OAS, and others) have been enthusiastic supporters. That is, the peace process has been and remains quite popular internationally and globally.

Internally, by far most Colombians are eager for peace after decades of bloody and costly strife (53 years, over 200,000 casualties, 7 million displaced), but many of them have reservations about some of the concessions made to the rebels in the final peace agreement of 2016. Leaders such as former President Uribe have been effective in voicing this sentiment. These differences are fueling alternative visions and campaigns as the implementation begins to take place and the 2018 presidential election cycle approaches.

Moderators:
Adriana Vargas, journalist and news presenter, Univision 41 New York
Jerry W. Carlson, The City College and The Graduate Center, CUNY

Humberto de la Calle Lombana is a chief government negotiator in Colombia’s peace process with the FARC guerrillas (2012-2016). An experienced lawyer, de la Calle served as Vice President of Colombia from 1994 to 1997 and as Interior Minister under Presidents, Andres Pastrana and Cesar Gaviria. He was Ambassador to Spain and the United Kingdom. De la Calle became a university professor in the 1970s and was Dean in the universities of Caldas and Manizales until 1980. He also taught in national universities including Bogotá’s Andes University and Our Lady of the Rosary University. De la Calle launched a highly successful private law firm as for almost a decade he served in the Judicial Branch was appointed head of the National Civil Registry in the late 1980s during the administration of President Belisario Betancur. He was Associate Justice on the Supreme Court in 1986-87. De La Calle is currently focused on the implementation phase of Colombia’s recent peace agreements.

Jerry W. Carlson (Ph.D., University of Chicago) is Chair of the Department of Media & Communication Arts at The City College CUNY, a Professor at the Graduate Center CUNY, and a Senior Fellow at the Bildner Center for Western Hemispheric Studies. He has been deeply engaged with Colombia since 1990. In more than fifty visits, he has lectured at universities in Barranquilla, Bogota, Cartagena, Medellin, and Santa Marta. He is a long standing cultural advisor to Fundación La Cueva.

Adriana Vargas is a Colombian journalist and news presenter for Univision 41 New York. In 2005 she participated in Caracol Radio’s morning news show “Hoy por hoy” and hosted and directed the “Noticiero del mediodía.” She also co-hosted “Noticiero CM&” at evenings. In 2006 she returned to RCN TV. In 2010, Adriana Vargas joined President Juan Manuel Santos’ team as his spokeswoman and International Media Director. After one year, Vargas joined the Univision O&O station serving the New York Tri-State area, WXTV channel 41 and currently anchors the 6 pm (“Noticias Univision 41 A las Seis”) and 11 pm (“Noticias Univision 41 Solo a las Once”) newscasts.

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