Washington, February 21 (RHC-PL), -- US President Barack Obama has appointed Bernard Aronson as special envoy to the peace talks between the Colombian Government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia-People's Army (FARC-EP).

State Secretary John Kerry said Obama designated Aronson for this responsibility, in response to a request by Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos.

“We will not occupy a seat at the negotiation table, but we can help,” said Aronson during the introductory meeting, also attended by State Undersecretary for the Western Hemisphere Roberta Jacobson.

Colombian Ambassador to Washington, Luis Carlos Villegas, expressed in a communique his Government's gratitude for the appointment of Aronson, who will be in permanent contact with the authorities of the South American country, especially the head of the Government delegation to the talks, Humberto de la Calle.

Aronson was assistant secretary of State for Inter-American affairs from June 16, 1989 until July 2, 1993 and then he worked as member of the directive boards of several private firms related to Latin America.

The peace talks between the Colombian Government and the FARC-EP, started in 2012, are developing in Havana, with Cuba and Norway as guarantors, while Chile and Venezuela accompany the process that has the objective of putting an end to the conflict that has affected almost seven million people in more than five decades.