Bogota , Colombia ( CNN ) -- Colombian rebels and the government are in `` exploratory '' talks to end the country 's nearly 50-year armed conflict , President Juan Manuel Santos said Monday . Speaking on national TV , the president said military operations would continue alongside any negotiations with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia , commonly known as the FARC . The FARC , which has been at war with the Colombian government since the 1960s , is Latin America 's oldest insurgency . `` We have developed exploratory talks with the FARC to seek an end to the conflict , '' said Santos , whose popularity has suffered because of the widespread perception that security has worsened under his leadership . He vowed to avoid the mistakes of the past . `` Colombians can rest assured that the government is acting with prudence , seriousness and firmness -- always putting first the welfare and peace of all residents , '' the president said . Santos invited members of a second rebel group -- the National Liberation Army , or ELN -- to also join in the talks . Earlier , current and former government sources told CNN that the government and rebels met in Cuba to discuss the possibility of peace . Present at the discussions , the sources said , were members of the FARC and representatives of Santos . The sources asked to remain anonymous because they were not authorized to discuss the matter with media . Previously on CNN.com : Indigenous groups clash with Colombian soldiers . The Venezuelan government was reportedly key to bringing the two sides together , the sources said . Peace talks between the rebels and the government have occurred sporadically since the 1980s . The last attempt fell apart in 2002 . Then-President Andres Pastrana ended negotiations after rebels launched a series of attacks across the country , in an apparent bid to strengthen their position . Since then , the sides have reached a kind of `` hurting stalemate , '' said Adam Isacson , senior associate at the Washington Office on Latin America . Though severely weakened in recent years , the FARC continues to carry out kidnappings and attack security forces . `` Neither side thinks they 're going to win anytime soon , '' said Isacson . `` What they 're looking at is losing thousands more people , with nothing to show for it . '' Of course , it remains unclear whether the two sides will reach an agreement at all , and if they do , what that deal might look like . It 's also unclear how much of the FARC the group 's leadership would be able to deliver , said Isacson . The FARC opened the door for talks this year . In a January statement , rebels said they would be interested in addressing certain issues at a `` hypothetical negotiating table , '' calling on the government to address such subjects as privatization , deregulation and environmental degradation . The statement was signed by the FARC 's leader , known as Timoleon Jimenez . `` This conflict will have no solution until our voices are heard . Without lies , Santos , without lies , '' the statement read . This spring , the FARC freed the last of 10 government hostages after holding them for more than a decade . In February , the rebel group said it would also stop kidnapping civilians for money . It did not address the fate of its civilian captives , nor did the group renounce kidnapping for political purposes . Hundreds of civilians remain prisoners of the guerrilla group throughout Colombia , according to the nonprofit Free Country Foundation . The United States and European Union consider the FARC a terrorist organization . Boos greet Colombian president in FARC area . CNN 's Dana Ford , Marilia Brocchetto and journalist Fernando Ramos contributed to this report .
NEW : The two sides have reached a `` hurting stalemate , '' says an analyst . Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos vows to avoid the mistakes of the past . Previous peace talks fell apart more than a decade ago . TL;DR Colombia and FARC rebels reach tentative deal on ending their conflict in jungle region.