With the prospect of reaching transcendental agreements that would eliminate the armed conflict in Colombia, the second cycle of negotiations between Gustavo Petro’s government and the National Liberation Army (ELN) began on Monday.
The meeting took place on the outskirts of the capital, in the City Hall of San Jeronimo, in the building of the former Inter-American Conference on Social Security, which was chaired by teacher Zoë Robledo.
In a welcoming message to the negotiators and representatives of the guarantor countries, Mexican Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard wished success in the second cycle of peace talks with Colombia.
On behalf of President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, the Foreign Minister welcomed Otti Patiño, chief negotiator for the Colombian government delegation; Pablo Beltran from ANO; Senator Maria José Pizarro Rodriguez, Special Representative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations and Head of the Verification Mission in Colombia, Carlos Ruiz Massier, and sponsors.
Welcoming them in Mexico, Ebrar congratulated himself on the start of peace negotiations and called this day a historic date on the path to reconciliation and peace in Colombia, which is important for all the peoples of the world, and especially for Mexico.
This place where we meet, the Inter-American Conference on Social Security, has special symbolism because it was the site of the negotiations for the Treaty for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean, better known as the Treaty of Tlatelolco. 1967, which is one of Latin America’s most important contributions to international security.
He recalled that President Andrés Manuel López Obrador indicated that “the Government of Mexico is convinced and determined to participate in building a common future for our region, with full respect for the sovereignty and particularities of every people and every country.”
The inauguration ceremony was also attended by the chief negotiators, who expressed their readiness to reach agreements conducive to building a new peaceful life and mutual trust, with the new government of Colombia expressing its firm will to initially achieve a bilateral ceasefire as a basis for consolidating the course of negotiations.
All praised the participation of Cuba, Brazil, Chile, Venezuela and Norway in the peace process, as well as the constant accompaniment of the Catholic Church of Colombia and the United Nations, as well as Germany, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.
Source: Juventud Rebelde
