The Extraordinary meeting The peace talks between the Colombian government and the National Liberation Army (ELN) concluded on Saturday in Caracas, Venezuela, with a joint declaration that described the meeting as a “successful balance.”
In reading the statement, Elieta González, guarantor on behalf of Mexico, confirmed that “the second cycle of negotiations has been set for February 13 in Mexico.”
The meeting took place in the Venezuelan capital between January 17 and 21, 2023. And it took place after a clash due to the announcement of December 31, 2022 for an eventual ceasefire, made by Colombian President Gustavo Petro; but both parties already considered the crisis over.
“The dialogue table points out that this extraordinary meeting contributed to ratify and strengthen the principles on which these dialogues are carried out: the agreements are to comply with them, bilaterality, political nature, mutual recognition, trust and good faith,” the statement said.
The president of Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro, offered in an official statement the development of the talks.
“We appreciate the high level of openness, sincerity, political will and transparency of the parties, with a view to overcoming the differences recently presented and that were dealt with in this extraordinary meeting,” Maduro said.
The new round plans to address “society’s participation in the construction of peace,” and from this time “a bilateral ceasefire will begin to be discussed and agreed upon,” González reported.
The dialogue table has recommended that the parties involved maintain communication channels even if they are not meeting.
The media were not summoned to the private meeting. Finally, the signatories thanked guarantor countries such as Chile, Cuba, Norway, and Mexico for hosting the next meeting.
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