Andres Pastrana

Andres Pastrana won the Colombian presidential election as the Conservative Party candidate. He campaigned on a platform of peace negotiations with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC).

Pastrana granted the FARC a demilitarized zone (despeje) in southern Colombia to facilitate peace negotiations. The talks began in January 1999 but were plagued by ongoing FARC attacks and kidnappings.

Pastrana secured U.S. approval and funding for Plan Colombia, a major aid package aimed at combating drug trafficking and strengthening the Colombian military. The plan included military training and equipment.

After three years of stalled negotiations and continued FARC violence, Pastrana ended the peace process. He ordered the military to retake the demilitarized zone, ending the largest peace effort with the FARC up to that point.