Bogotá, September 23 (teleSUR-RHC)-- Former Colombian Senator and human rights activist Piedad Cordoba announced Tuesday that the Colombian government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) are ready to sign an agreement for justice and reparations to victims of the more than 50-year-old armed conflict.  

Her announcement came at the time when the Colombian government delegation to the talks began consultations to speed up the peace process.  

Last week, the head of the FARC delegation Luciano Marin Arango, aka “Ivan Marquez,” said both parties were “close to reaching an agreement” on the “decisive” point of justice for victims. Negotiations on victims' compensations has been a controversial component of the agreement that has been discussed for over a year.  He also announced the FARC rebels are ready to lay down their arms and become a political movement.     

Marquez added that they were still negotiating in Havana and “making progress” over a consensus for a bilateral cease-fire.  The FARC had announced on July 20th a month-long unilateral cease-fire and then renewed it on August 20th indefinitely while the Colombian armed forces are still attacking the guerrilla group’s positions.