Within the framework of the peace agreements between the Government of Colombia and the National Liberation Army (ELN), which began this Monday in Caracas and will continue to develop over the next few days, the different representatives of the delegations presented their expectations for these tables of negotiations.
The spokesman for the National Liberation Army (ELN) delegation, Aureliano Carbonell, stated that the movement has positive expectations for the peace dialogue table.
From the Hotel Humbolt in the Waraira Repano mountain, Carbonell highlighted that one day after the start of the talks “the joint declaration that was signed marks a route, a course and sends a positive message that we are going to make every effort to advance in the Peace of Colombia”.
He also stated that Venezuela, as the guarantor of peace, has always played a key role in resolving the conflict between the Colombian government and the ELN:
“Venezuela has had a very positive attitude not only now but long before to seek and help peace in Colombia and we trust that it will continue with a great commitment,” said Aureliano Carbonell.
For his part, the Special Representative of the Secretary General of the United Nations Organization for the Peace Agreement in Colombia, Carlos Ruiz Massieu, stated that he trusts that details and issues can be fixed during the first round of meetings, before enter the specific points to reach an agreement:
“It is to begin for the parties to agree on the process, to start building, reconfirming or strengthening the architecture of the same process in terms of the frequency of meetings, the teams, who are going to accompany them, the venues, all this type of arrangements,” he noted.
Likewise, he expressed that he is confident on that the process will be built on solid foundations and that it has the full support of the United Nations as accompaniment: “difficulties will arise, but we trust that this effort will be worthwhile,” affirmed Ruiz Massieu.
Monsignor Héctor Fabio Henao, delegate by the Episcopal Conference of Colombia, assured that the dialogue between the Colombian government and the National Liberation Army (ELN), began in an atmosphere of peace and respect between the parties:
“There was a historic meeting, and we began to live a dialogue of peace with a climate of trust and with an openness to advance in agreements that will allow social transformations,” he pointed out.
