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HAVANA, June 23 (Xinhua) -- The signing of the ceasefire with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) meant a step closer to end the over 50-year domestic conflict, Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos said Thursday.
"It's time to live without war... Today the signed agreement opens a new chapter that gives us hope," said the president after the signing ceremony.
According to the ceasefire deal agreed upon by the Colombian government and the FARC in Havana, Cuba, the guerrilla group FARC will disarm and change into a political party or movement after over 50 years of violent confict with the Colombian government.
Saying he himself was a staunch opponent of the FARC, Santos noted he "will defend with equal determination the right of the FARC to express themselves by legal and political means, even if we never fully agree (with each other)."
In the future, the fight will be political with exchanges of ideas and arguments instead of violence, the Colombian president said.
There are many things pending but both the government and the FARC agreed on the need to sign a final peace agreement as soon as possible, Santos said.
"The final agreement will be signed in Colombia," Santos said. "Peace in Colombia is no longer a dream."
