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The Venezuelan president, Nicolás Maduro, announced his approval for the initiative to participate in the negotiations between the guerrillas and the Colombian government in Cuba after his counterpart Gustavo Petro offered it to him.
It is a gesture that further normalizes relations between the two countries after years of being frozen. On September 13, the Colombian president asked Nicolás Maduro to be part of the negotiations with the guerrillas of the National Liberation Army (ELN), which will begin in the coming days in Havana. A request that the Venezuelan leader accepted.
Maduro confirmed his intentions in a television program in Venezuela, stating that “we say to President Gustavo Petro and to Colombia: Venezuela accepts the role of guarantor of the negotiations and peace agreements between Colombia and the ELN and we will do our best , in the name of God the almighty father, for the total peace of Colombia”.
The Venezuelan president also mentioned that he received the letter from the Colombian government on Monday, September 12.
The negotiations to close this issue had already been taking place for weeks between the two governments and it even seems that Maduro would have given his approval days ago, but this Tuesday it became completely official after sending a letter and these statements.
Venezuela’s participation is essential in this peace process with the ELN guerrillas, since a large part of the armed group operates on the border with Venezuelan territory or even within its limits. In addition, this organization maintains good relations with part of the Chavista leadership, so the participation of Caracas becomes more important.
A position that is not new for Venezuela
This position is not new for the Caribbean country, since during the negotiation process with the former FARC guerrilla carried out between 2012 and 2016 in Havana, the Maduro government was also the guarantor of the dialogues along with other nations.
Petro, after coming to power, announced that he would seek “total peace”, which means that he will sit at the negotiating table not only with the ELN guerrilla group, but also with criminal gangs that are outside the law, such as the Clan of the Gulf. The idea is to reach a peace agreement with the ELN and submit to justice with the criminal gangs.
The Colombian government says there is progress to resume negotiations with the ELN that were suspended by Iván Duque when the General Santander Police School in Bogotá was attacked with a car bomb, killing 22 people.
The other groups outside the law have shown interest in availing themselves of the process proposed by the Presidency.
With EFE, AP and local media
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