TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos is calling for the peace process in his county to serve as a beacon of hope while accepting an honorary degree from a U.S. university.

Santos spoke Tuesday at the University of Kansas, where he earned degrees in business and economics in 1973. Santos won last year’s Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts to end his country’s civil war after five decades of bloodshed.

 

Chancellor Douglas A. Girod offers thoughts on this week’s visit from the president of Colombia. https://t.co/AJrMJljqG0#KUchancellor pic.twitter.com/va0Erkcd13

— University of Kansas (@KUnews) October 30, 2017

Santos says that despite differences, people need to coexist in times of conflict, when extremism, radicalism, racism or populism might arise. Santos says we “do not fight evil with evil.”

Santos also says it is always easier to wage war than seek peace and to “go for the emotions rather than for the arguments.”