It is determined that Cuba is an alternative headquarters, there is no permanent headquarters of the Table, Martinez Henriquez said. Author: CubaMinrex

WhatWhat does it mean that Cuba is the guarantor country at the peace negotiating table between the government of Colombia and the National Liberation Army (ANL)?

The Colombian government and ELN have asked several countries to participate in the dialogue table on terms they call “guarantees”. The guarantor performs several functions.

What does the guarantor country do?

At the invitation of the government of Colombia and the PLA, the guarantor countries personally participate at the dialogue table and make a diplomatic and political contribution to the establishment of peace in Colombia.

They act as depositaries or witnesses of obligations, arrangements and agreements between the parties, which, by the way, they sign. They serve as the headquarters for the work meeting cycles. They support the fulfillment of agreements and obligations and contribute their good offices at the request of the parties, in controversial situations. They also physically accompany the ELN delegation on transfers.

Both sides asked Cuba to be the guarantor, and she agreed. In fact, in preliminary discussions at the table, the parties stated that Cuba, Norway and Venezuela, unlike other countries, maintained their obligations and conditions as guarantors, despite the fact that the previous table was unilaterally canceled by the previous government of Colombia. in 2019.

For Cuba, being a guarantor is a great responsibility and recognition of the impartial, responsible, professional and prudent work that our country has always shown in the interest of finding a political solution to the conflict in Colombia in order to achieve peace.

I should note that the first contacts between the government of Colombia, which came to power in August 2022, and the ANO took place in Havana. Subsequently, introductory meetings were held in Caracas, where the Round Table was re-established in its first cycle.

At that time, there were three guarantor countries: Norway, Venezuela and Cuba, and two permanent escorts: the Episcopal Conference of Colombia and the Representative of the UN Secretary-General in Colombia.

In the past two cycles, Mexico, Chile and Brazil have been included as guarantor countries, so that there are currently six guarantor countries.

There is another category, which the parties call the Group of Accompanying, Supporting and Cooperation Countries. These are Sweden, Switzerland, Germany and Spain.

Will Cuba be the venue for the rest of the dialogue table?

It is determined that Cuba is an alternative headquarters, there is no permanent headquarters of the Table.

Being a meeting place brings with it a high responsibility that Cuba can fulfill thanks to its experience in other dialogue processes in which the parties have recognized its impartiality, discretion, professionalism, as well as the security and hospitality that our country offers.

How does Cuba view this process?

Cuba welcomes the progress made so far. The reopening of this dialogue table is hopeful and appreciated as an opportunity. The Colombian people want and deserve peace, and Cuba is deeply convinced that it will find ways to achieve it. In everything that Cuba can help, we will be there.

The role that Cuba has played and is playing in this process is based on the strictest respect for the agreement and specific agreements reached between the Government of Colombia and the ANO, and will continue to support and contribute, along with others guarantor countries, accompanying countries and other actors.

By the way, the previous Colombian government manipulated Cuba’s attitude and contribution and did it in an ungrateful way. Cuba complied with the agreement between the government of Colombia and the NLA, as well as six other countries, which pledged by means of a Protocol signed by all that in the event of a breakdown in negotiations, one of the parties, the delegation of the NLA, should return safely to Colombian territory.

Instead, the Colombian government at the time took an unusual and politically unsound decision: it demanded that Cuba extradite the majority of this delegation for imprisonment or criminal prosecution.

Cuba did not agree to these demands, which were at odds with what was agreed and with international practice in all dialogue processes. This was the unfair intervention of the United States, which used Cuba’s attitude to the law as a pretext for the arbitrary and unjustified designation of our country as a state that supports terrorism. Gross lie.

In all modesty, I dare say that if Cuba did not fulfill what was agreed, it would be difficult to create all the conditions for the restoration of the table. Imagine that Cuba handed over the previous government of Colombia to the ELN delegation, which sits down today to speak in Mexico with the new government of Colombia, and who will soon return to Havana! Can any country be trusted again as a guarantor or seat at the negotiating table?

(Taken from CubaMinrex website)

Source: Juventud Rebelde