Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Bogotà (Agenzia Fides) - The possibility to postpone the establishment of a formal table for dialogue for peace between the Colombian government and the National Liberation Army (ELN) would lead to stop peace talks with FARC (Revolutionary Armed Forces Colombian) underway in Havana. Faced with this possibility, Father Dario Echeverri González, Secretary general of the National Conciliation Commission, said that this could take away the importance and legitimacy in the negotiations with the FARC guerrilla group and expressed the deep concern of the Church for this possible stop.
According to the note sent to Fides by the Colombian Bishops' Conference, Father Echeverri reiterated: "The Church wants negotiations with FARC to continue and to move forward and do not expect negotiations with ELN. Negotiations with FARC must reach a positive ending". ELN in fact has not yet indicated its representatives in the peace talks. Some politicians push to stop talks with FARC until even those parallel with ELN start.
According to the latest information on the 34th Session of the Peace Talks underway in Cuba, the current topic of discussion concerns the victims of the conflict. Although we have come to an agreement on many issues, members of both parties have confirmed that there is still much to discuss. Among other things, a very important subject: the definite cease-fire and demining of the Colombian territory. (CE) (Agenzia Fides 25/03/2015)
