Bogotá (EFE).- The Colombian government’s peace delegation hoped that the Dialogue Table will emerge strengthened from the second round of talks with the guerrillas of the National Liberation Army (ELN), which will be installed this Monday in Mexico and which has The main objective is to achieve a bilateral ceasefire agreement.
“We are sure that, during the cycle of Peace Dialogues that is beginning, progress will be made on the agreed issues and, at the end, the leadership of the Dialogue Table, the support of the international community and the confidence of Colombian society will emerge strengthened. in the process,” said the Peace Delegation of the Government of Colombia for the talks with the ELN in a statement on Sunday.
Another of the points that will be addressed in Mexico is the reference to the participation of society in the construction of peace, which has not been explored, and that, although both parties want to involve women, civil society and the peasantry, There are different views on how it will be done.
Work schedule with the ELN
“The work agenda is clearly outlined, we are going to finish discussing which are the points that make up the peace talks agenda with the ELN and we will present that agenda to the country and the international community,” said Senator Iván Cepeda, from the government delegation, minutes before leaving for Mexico.
Cepeda, who has always been in favor of a negotiated exit with the groups up in arms, added that “the (Government) delegation is in the best disposition. There, the ELN delegation is waiting in Mexico and we hope to get to work.”
The government delegation also thanked the “hospitality” of Mexico, which along with Venezuela, Chile, Norway and Brazil, are guarantors of the peace talks.
They recalled that the dialogues continue to have the permanent accompaniment of the Secretary General of the United Nations, through his Special Representative in Colombia and the representatives of the Episcopal Conference of Colombia.
Likewise, they emphasize that Sweden, Germany, Switzerland and Spain “will accompany us as accompanying countries in the installation of this second cycle.”
Additionally, for the second cycle, the Colombian Police joins the observers of the Military Forces, completing “the full participation of the armed forces.”
“The presence of these countries and institutions is a sign of their confidence and continued support for the consolidation of peace in Colombia,” concludes the statement from the Colombian government’s peace delegation.