Bogotá (EFE).- The Colombian government and the Central General Staff (EMC), one of the dissidents of the former FARC guerrilla, announced that they reached an agreement to set up a peace negotiation table.
“In the installation of the Peace Dialogue Table, the parties will discuss and approve the bilateral and temporary ceasefire of a national nature,” says the joint statement released this Saturday by the parties.
The announcement comes a month and a half after the government, which had already begun rapprochement with the EMC, partially suspended the bilateral ceasefire with that dissidence in response to the murder of four indigenous minors who tried to escape after being recruited by force in the south of the country by the Carolina Ramírez Front, which is part of that group.
The new work plan also includes the methodology and the peace agenda that will be implemented. As well as the creation of a mechanism that will be in charge of building trust and resolving tensions between the parties.
“To this end, from today until the date of installation, government delegates (…) and the EMC of the FARC-EP will begin the preliminary phase of the Peace Dialogues Table,” the statement dated July 7 states, but released today.
International accompaniment at the peace table
In the talks there will be “permanent presence of officials from the Office of the High Commissioner for Peace and representatives of the international community, the Catholic Church and the World Council of Churches,” the information added.
In this phase, “adjustments to the national bilateral and temporary ceasefire protocol and protection of the civilian population, and implementation of Oversight, Monitoring and Verification Mechanisms” will be discussed, in addition to the way in which civil society will participate.
“The parties reiterate the firm intention to move towards the construction of a Peace Agreement that puts an end to the armed confrontation and that promotes the achievement of a comprehensive, stable and lasting peace, with social and environmental justice,” the statement added.
According to the parties, in the coming days the Government and the EMC will announce the names of those who will make up their negotiating teams.
The partially suspended ceasefire between the Government and the EMC, announced by Colombian President Gustavo Petro, shortly before midnight on December 31, covers five armed groups included in his “total peace” program.
These groups are the guerrilla of the National Liberation Army (ELN), which ignored said agreement although it later agreed to one that will come into effect on August 3; the EMC and the Segunda Marquetalia, both dissidents of the FARC; the Gaitanista Self-Defense Forces of Colombia (AGC) and the Sierra Nevada Paramilitaries.