The peace delegations of the Government of Colombia and the guerrilla of the National Liberation Army (ELN) announced this Saturday, in Caracasthat the dialogue initiated on November 21 will be resumed in Mexico on Monday, February 13, when they hope to start a second cycle of talks.
The parties released the information in a joint statement, read at the end of an extraordinary meeting held in the Venezuelan capital -where the first round of negotiations took place- to resolve the differences at the beginning of the year, after the president Colombian, Gustavo Petro, announced a bilateral ceasefire, denied days later by the guerrillas.
GOVERNMENT-ELN DIALOGUE TABLE STRENGTHENS
The door remains open to the second cycle of dialogues (Mexico, 2/13/2023). Topics to finish adjusting the Dialogue Agenda, bilateral ceasefire, participation of society in the construction of peace, first item on the Agenda. pic.twitter.com/cnfOzB43da
— Iván Cepeda Castro (@IvanCepedaCast) January 21, 2023
The dialogue table, the letter states, “values the frankness and depth of the discussion process and agrees to maintain the communication mechanisms during the periods in which it is not meeting.”
Regarding the issues to be discussed in the next round, they announced that they will include the participation of society in the construction of peace and the possibility of a bilateral ceasefire, a matter without agreements so far.
The delegations thanked Venezuela for “the hospitality and careful effort in coordinating all activities for the good success of the talks” and “appreciate the willingness” of Mexico to host the second cycle of the dialogue.
Likewise, they reiterated their recognition to the other guarantor countries (Cuba, Chile and Norway), as well as to the accompanying persons, including the Episcopal Conference of Colombia and the United Nations (UN).
Efe/OnCuba.
