Died at the age of 95, Belisario Betancur, former President of Colombia | World

Later that night, Colombian Vice President Marta Lucía Ramírez mistakenly posted a posthumous message about Betancur before her death was confirmed. She has retraced herself.

Confirmed death, current president Iván Duque paid tribute to Betancur on Twitter: "I deeply regret the death of a great friend, a great Colombian, former President Belisario Betancur, of his legacy political, of our history, culture is an example for all future generations. "

I deeply regret the death of a great friend, a great Colombian, former President Belisario Betancur. His legacy in politics, in our history, in culture is an example for all future generations. Our condolences to your family and friends.

– 7 December 2018

In the government, Betancur is confronted with the seizure of the courthouse in the heart of the capital Bogotá by the defunct M19 guerrillas. The confrontation left 99 dead, at the height of drug trafficking.

In addition, he was responsible for an avalanche caused by the thaw of a snow-capped volcano that had claimed the lives of 25,000 inhabitants of the Andean population of Armero.

In the midst of hardship, Betancur was the first president to call for dialogue with the rebel organizations that emerged in the 1960s. He later declared that he would like to have sealed the peace in the country.

However, it took several decades to Colombia. live more peaceful days. Only in 2016, during the government of Liberal Juan Manuel Santos, the FARC gave up.

"Great patriot, great friend and good example of character, honesty and humility … Colombia, grateful, will remember him forever," wrote Juan Manuel Santos.

The leftist opposition leader, Gustavo Petro, who fought in the former M-19 guerrillas led by Belisario Betancur's government, recalled the frustrated peace process of the # 39; ex-president.