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BOGOTA, Oct. 7 (Xinhua) -- Congratulations have poured in from across Latin America to Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos for winning the Nobel Peace Prize over a peace deal with the country's largest rebel group, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC).
Ecuadoran President Rafael Correa said the prize is an honor for the whole region.
"Long live Colombia! Today is a day of celebration for the entire region," Correa told a news conference in the town of Macas, where he was meeting Peruvian President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski.
"The Nobel Peace Prize has been awarded to our dear President Juan Manuel Santos for his conviction, for his commitment to peace."
At the same event, Peruvian President Kuczynski also sent congratulations to Santos.
Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto paid tribute to Santos, saying on Twitter that the Nobel Peace Prize was a recognition of Santos' leadership and commitment to peace in Colombia.
At home, former President Alvaro Uribe, a stanch opponent of Santos, also sent his congratulations through Twitter, though adding that he hoped the prize will help change the peace deal he thought "harmful" to democracy.
The peace deal signed on Sept. 26 was rejected in a referendum on Sunday.
Timoleon Jimenez, commander of FARC who signed the peace deal with Santos, congratulated Santos through Twitter.
Jimenez said after the referendum that he will listen to opponents on how to end the 52-year armed conflict.
Victims of the conflict also hailed the news, saying it was a major support for the peace process, despite the "no" vote.
Eisenhower Zapata, director of the victims' association URestitucion and one of the negotiators in the peace talks, appreciated Santos for dedicating the prize to the millions of victims of the war, according to Colombian radio network Caracol Radio.
"The committee ... has backed the president and the Colombian people so that we keep fighting for this goal. This is not about yes or no, but about a process to defend the main, fundamental right of this country," Zapata said.
Ricardo Lagarraga, a former policeman who was held prisoner by FARC for over three years, celebrated the prize and highlighted its importance to bring hope to the country.
"This is a major backing from the entire world of the peace process and of Colombia. It is a call to those who sought to make this a political battle," he said.
Santos was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize out of 376 candidates, including German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Pope Francis.
