ROUGH CUT - NO REPORTER NARRATION

STORY: U.S. President Barack Obama commended Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos on Tuesday (December 3) for his efforts in resolving the decades-old conflict with Marxist FARC rebels.

"I congratulated President Santos on his bold and brave efforts to bring about a lasting and just peace inside Colombia in his negotiations with the FARC. Obviously, this has been a long-standing conflict within Colombia. It is not easy. There are many challenges ahead, but the fact that he has taken this step is, I think, the right one," Obama said at a press briefing at the White House after their bilateral talks.

Santos, in turn, thanked Obama for the support the U.S. has offered his country as they work towards achieving peace.

"It's a process that's doing very well and it is my hope that this is a conflict that will come to an end. We have been shedding blood for over 50 years and the support of the United States and the entire world is d