Bogota, October 7 (RHC)-- President Juan Manuel Santos blasted as 'contradictory' the tough stance taken by his predecessor and right-wing opponent Alvaro Uribe on the ongoing peace negotiations between the Colombian government and the country's largest guerrilla group, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia-People's Army (FARC-EP).

Santos recalled that as president of Colombia, Uribe himself tried unsuccessfully to negotiate a peace deal with the guerrilla group.

At a meeting of the Colombian Council of Ministers, Santos lamented that those who criticize him are the same who tried unsuccessfully by several ways and means to obtain what his government is accomplishing today.

Juan Manuel Santos termed as yet another 'blatant lie' the argument that the government of Alvaro Uribe, from 2002 to 2010, never tried to negotiate with FARC-EP.

“There was NOT just ONE, but several attempts by the Uribe government to engage in a peace process similar to the one we are developing right now,” said Santos, revealing that Peace Commissioner Frank Pearl, acting on Uribe's orders, tried to begin peace negotiations with FARC-EP and even set Brazil as the venue of the eventual negotiations.

He added also that during his time as a member of the Uribe cabinet, there was some rapprochement between the government and another guerrilla group –- the National Liberation Army (ELN).