Kerry to Meet FARC Negotiators, Colombian Government in Havana

US State Department spokesman John Kirby said that Kerry will hold separate meetings with members of the Colombian government and representative of FARC on Monday.

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — US Secretary of State John Kerry will hold separate meetings with members of the Colombian government and representative of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) on Monday in Havana, State Department spokesman John Kirby said.

"[Kerry] is meeting separately with members of the Colombian government, as well as some of the FARC negotiators today down in Havana," Kirby said in a Monday press conference.

Kirby added that the purpose of the meetings was to reaffirm the US "strong support" for the peace effort led by Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos.

The FARC rebel group was established in 1964 as the military wing of Colombia's Communist Party. Since then, military confrontation between FARC and the Colombian government has been ongoing, with over 200,000 people having been killed as a result.

Last year, Santos and FARC signed a deal in Havana that set the schedule for the rebels’ full demobilization and disarmament. In February, the Colombian president issued an ultimatum for FARC to conclude a peace deal by March 23.

US President Barack Obama affirmed last month US support for Colombia’s peace efforts during a state visit by President Santos and announced a $450 million economic assistance program to bolster peace efforts in the country.