Bogota, April 28 (RHC) -– Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos said that a bi-lateral ceasefire, like that requested by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, FARC, at ongoing peace negotiations in Cuba, will come into effect in Colombia only at the end of peace negotiations.

Opening the Naturgas Congress in Medellin, capital of Antioquia province, on Monday, the president defended his policy of negotiating for peace, while maintaining a military offensive against FARC rebels.

“This was the commitment I made at the beginning and we will continue with it until we finalize a bi-lateral ceasefire with all its many and very complex conditions,” he said.

Since November 2012, the Colombian government and FARC have been negotiating a political solution to their armed conflict. However, the rebel group wants the negotiations to occur under a bi-lateral ceasefire, which Santos has refused.