CUBA-COLOMBIA-FARC-PEACE TALKS

Commanders of the FARC-EP leftist guerrillas Ivan Marquez (L) and Jesus Santrich gestures before reading a statement at the Convention Palace in Havana for the peace talks with the Colombian government, on August 22, 2014. Colombia named its top general on Thursday to lead a committee tasked with hammering out a ceasefire proposal as peace negotiations with the FARC rebel group entered a crucial phase. President Juan Manuel Santos ordered Javier Florez, chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, to lead the committee of five military officers charged with finding a workable deal to halt the 50-year-old conflict. "For the first time in history, the first time in 50 years of war, discussions are beginning on the definitive bilateral ceasefire and laying down of arms," Santos said, at the presidential palace. AFP PHOTO/YAMIL LAGE (Photo credit should read YAMIL LAGE/AFP via Getty Images)