Colombian Government, ELN to Continue Peace Talks

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Sunday, January 13, 2002

Colombian Government, ELN to Continue Peace Talks

The Colombian government and the rebel National Liberation Army (ELN) have agreed to continue talksin order to push forward the country's peace process, an official statement said Saturday.

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The Colombian government and the rebel National Liberation Army (ELN) have agreed to continue talksin order to push forward the country's peace process, an official statement said Saturday.

The two parties, now engaged in a second day of their five-day negotiations in the Cuban capital Havana, have reached an agreement on future peace talks agenda, according to a news release issued by President Andres Pastrana's office.

Colombian Ambassador to Cuba Julio Londono told the Colombian Caracol radio that the ongoing talks in Cuba are aimed at "preparing different forums to be held through this year."

In what he said is a "satisfactory progress," the two parties have committed themselves to continued peace talks in Havana and the Venezuelan capital Caracas, and decided to first call a Peace Summit on January 30-31 in Havana, which is expected to be attended by Colombian figures from all walks of life.

"We're preparing in details the agenda, the list of participants, guests and the plan of bilateral meetings between the government and the ELN," said the senior diplomat.

The peace talks between the Colombian government and the 4,500-strong ELN resumed after the Colombian government restored the ELN's political status at the end of last year.

Negotiations between them began in 1999 and broke down last August due to differences over issues including the establishment of a peace talks zone in the ELN-controled land in northern Colombia. The Colombian government criticized the guerrilla organization as insincere and canceled its political status.

The ELN is Colombia' second largest guerrilla organization after the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia.