Havana, June 15 (RHC)-- The Colombian government and FARC rebels are getting closer to finalizing peace talks and an agreement to bring an end to over five decades of internal armed conflict after more than three years of negotiations. 

According to an official from Norway, one of the mediating countries in the talks, they are making progress and are close to an agreement.  Norwegian Foreign Minister Borge Brende said that the talks have lead to partial agreements on a number of issues and will soon come to a conclusion according to Reuters.

Norway and Cuba are mediating peace talks, launched in 2012 in Havana, Cuba, by the Colombian government and the Armed Revolutionary Forces of Colombia, better known as the FARC.

The two sides of the conflict already missed a self-imposed deadline to conclude the peace talks by March 23rd, but both FARC and government negotiators agreed to extend the process and have expressed confidence that a final deal is not far off.

The peace talks have already successfully led to partial agreements on agrarian reform, political participation of former rebels, illicit substances, and the rights of victims and transitional justice.

FARC leaders and human rights defenders have repeatedly argued that peace will only be achieved if the government takes serious action toward acknowledging and tackling the ongoing problem of paramilitary violence in the country.

The much-anticipated peace agreement is set to bring an end to over 50 years of armed conflict between the Colombian government and the FARC that has affected more than six million people.