Third round of Colombian peace talks ends today in Havana

HAVANA, Cuba, Jun 8 (ACN) The third round of peace talks between the National Liberation Army (ELN) and the Colombian government will come to an end today in this city in the presence of President Gustavo Petro, who described the negotiation as an important milestone in the history of Colombia.

“I am going to sign a paper that could mean the irreversible beginning of an era of peace for this country,” Petro said in reference to the conclusion of the 35-day-long talks to agree on a cease-fire, the participation of society in the peace-building process, and humanitarian actions and dynamics.

At the opening of this meeting, Bruno Rodríguez, Minister of Foreign Affairs, stated that Cuba would show its traditional willingness and impartiality as guarantor and alternative venue.

On his end, ELN’s chief negotiator Pablo Beltrán acknowledged the Petro administration’s will to achieve peace through the upcoming talks.

The meetings have been supported by Brazil, Cuba, Chile, Mexico, Norway and Venezuela as guarantor countries; whereas Spain, Germany, Sweden and Switzerland have been invited to accompany the dialogues, in which the Special Representative of the Secretary General of the United Nations and the Colombian Episcopal Conference are taking part on a permanent basis.