Colombia's ex-President Andres Pastrana defends efforts to build peace

Former Colombian President Andres Pastrana speaks during a hearing at the Truth Commission, in Bogota, Colombia August 31, 2021. REUTERS/Luisa Gonzalez

BOGOTA (Reuters) - Colombia's ex-President Andres Pastrana said on Tuesday his government had laid the ground work for building peace in the South American country, even though he did not reach an agreement with leftwing guerrillas and rightwing paramilitaries.

Pastrana, who governed Colombia between 1998 and 2002, became the fifth ex-president to testify before the country's truth commission, which was established as part of a 2016 peace agreement with the now-demobilized rebel group the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC).