The commander of the Southern Bloc of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia is in Havana to begin peace talks with the Colombian government, officials said.

"This transfer was carried out following all the established protocols and with the express authorization of the president of the republic," President Juan Manuel Santos's office said in a statement.

Officials said Sunday that Joaquin Gomez, leader of FARC will join the delegation trying to negotiate peace talks to end 30 years of conflict.

The Guerilla group is looking towards ending conflict unlike nearly 13 years ago when they killed some people who were held captive and were not interested in peace talks, according to Colombiapeace.org.

In 2001, FARC killed Police Corporal Norbeto Perez after the officer tried to escape from their clutches. But earlier this year, when Colombian Army Gen. Ruben Dario Alzate was kidnapped for wandering onto FARC territory, he was returned alive and well.

For the past three decades, the South American country has tried to negotiate with the guerilla group but to no avail. Recent peace talks in Havana shows hope of progress.

The president's office said negotiations will be "based on what was agreed to previously," and will address the issues of demobilization, disarmament and the reintegration of guerrillas into society.

Current peace talks began two years ago but briefly stopped when the general was kidnapped along with two other companions.

Gomez, whose real name is Milton de Jesus Toncel Redondo and who is a member of FARC's highest body, participated in failed past peace talks with Colombia's former President Andres Pastrana's administration in San Vicente del Caguan.

Pastrana allowed the FARC and Colombian government to have a neutral zone back in 1999 where they were scheduled to participate in peace talks. The mission failed.

Now the guerilla group and the government will continue negotiations to end the 30-year-long conflict.

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