The Colombian authorities and the armed insurgent group National Liberation Army (ELN) agreed to a cease-fire deal on the fifth spherical of negotiations in Mexico Monday.
It was reported that the federal government delegation and ELN representatives, who met within the capital Mexico City, reached an settlement on the “cessation of kidnappings and ransom activities.”
Vera Grabe, the Head of the Colombian Government Delegation and former member of the M-19 (April 19 Movement), stated in a press launch that they’ve taken a “significant” step towards attaining nationwide peace within the nation.
Referring to the continuing cease-fire between the federal government and ELN, Grabe talked about that negotiations are ongoing for its extension, and ELN has pledged to supply details about the hostages it holds.
Pablo Beltran, the chief negotiator for the ELN, often known as Israel Ramirez, expressed that the cease-fire might be prolonged till the tip of Feb., saying, “A cease-fire seems possible, but the biggest problem during this process is the killing of over a dozen people within the ranks of the ELN.”
Blaming paramilitary teams for the assaults, Beltran evaluated, “One of the biggest achievements of the meeting is giving life to the monitoring mechanism.”
The talks between the events got here to a standstill after the mother and father of Colombian nationwide footballer Luis Diaz have been kidnapped by ELN members on Nov. 2.
Return to negotiation desk after 3 years
The events, who got here collectively within the capital Caracas, Venezuela, below the guarantorship and internet hosting of Venezuela, resumed peace talks that have been suspended in 2019 on Nov. 22, 2022.
In the primary spherical of talks attended by observers from Norway and Venezuela, a cease-fire was not reached on Dec. 13, 2022, however a choice was made to enhance the circumstances for humanitarian help and imprisoned ELN members in sure areas.
The second spherical of peace talks, which started on Feb. 14 in Mexico, was concluded with the popularity of the “political status of the ELN.”
The third spherical of peace negotiations, which began in Havana, the capital of Cuba, on May 2, ended with the signing of a “6-month temporary ceasefire agreement” and the settlement formally began on Aug. 3.
The events, assembly within the capital Caracas on Aug. 15 for the fourth spherical, reached an settlement on the “opening of a humanitarian corridor in the areas most affected by conflicts.”
Gustavo Petro, a left-wing chief who gained the presidential election in Colombia and took workplace on Aug. 7, 2022, had promised to implement the 2016 Peace Agreement with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) and have interaction in peace talks with ELN upon assuming energy.
Source: www.dailysabah.com