Bogota, June 21 (RHC)-- The Colombian government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) hope to sign a final peace agreement by next month, which could put an end to more than 50 years of conflict that has affected more than six million people.

Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos said he thinks that by July 20th, negotiations in Havana will be finished "and from there, a new era for the country will come."  The Colombian government has been in talks in Cuba with the FARC since late 2012.  They were preceded by two years of secret talks.

Thus far, the two sides have reached accords on more than half a dozen topics including agrarian reform, political participation of former rebels, curbing production and trafficking of illicit substances, and the rights of victims and transitional justice.

Despite failing to reach a self-imposed deadline for signing a deal in March, Colombia’s president met on Monday with lawmakers and public officials to discuss the creation of regional and local peace councils that would oversee the post-conflict era.