Mexico City (EFE).- The Government of Colombia and the guerrilla of the National Liberation Army (ELN) defined a shared vision of the peace process and methodology to achieve a ceasefire between both sides, as part of the Dialogue Table of Peace held in the Mexican capital.
“Currently, the delegations are working on defining the Dialogue Agenda; agreement that allows to begin to deal with points such as the participation of society in this peace process and bilateral ceasefire”, they reported in a position released this Saturday.
In the joint statement, released through the official account of Colombian Senator Iván Cepeda, it was indicated, regarding this agenda, that the Colombian Government and the ELN “have already made progress in defining a shared vision of the peace process and a methodology to develop the Agenda (of Dialogues)”.
Likewise, it was pointed out that both delegations agreed on issues, without which it would be impossible to develop this peace process clearly and firmly.
Among them, the following stand out: the legal legal characterization of the ELN as a “rebel armed political organization” with which the Government of President Gustavo Petro is carrying out peace talks, as well as an agreement on pedagogy and communications towards a culture of peace.
Also the creation of a point of contact and communication of the ELN delegation that will work between the cycles of dialogue; the terms of reference by which the Group of Accompaniment, Support and Cooperation Countries (GPAAC) will be governed for this peace process.
Likewise, adopt the report of the Humanitarian Commission of the Dialogue Table that toured the area of lower Calima and middle San Juan, and assume the responsibilities that correspond to each of the parties “to guarantee the continuity of this humanitarian purpose.”
Within the framework of the peace talks, the two interest groups also dealt with complaints filed by both sides regarding violations of Human Rights and violations of International Humanitarian Law that occurred in Colombian territory.
Focus on justice for peace
Among other advances of the bilateral table, the participation of the Minister of Justice, Néstor Iván Osuna, the first senior official of the Colombian Government, was recognized.
It was indicated that the Minister of Justice explained a bill for the humanization of prison and penitentiary policy, at the same time that he reiterated the continuity of his management related to the humanitarian relief agreed for the political prisoners of the ELN.
For their part, the delegations of the Colombian government and the ELN thanked the guarantor countries, including Mexico, for “their valuable contribution to the search for peace for Colombia.”
The Peace Dialogue Table in Mexico City began on February 13, where the key point of the talks is to reach an agreement to cease fire on both sides, although they have also discussed the participation of society in the construction of peace.
Negotiations between the Colombian government and the ELN, which were interrupted for 4 years after starting in 2017, resumed in November 2022 in Caracas under the auspices of Cuba, Norway, Venezuela and now Mexico, as guarantor countries.
Although President Petro announced the entry into force of the bilateral ceasefire on December 31, the guerrillas denied it days later, arguing that no agreement had been reached in the talks, which led to the calling of an extraordinary meeting in Caracas in January to ease tensions.
Mexico, together with Venezuela, Chile, Norway and Brazil, are guarantors of the peace talks, while Sweden, Germany, Switzerland and Spain act as accompanying countries.