Colombia-rebel
talks on after overcoming differences
AFP
HAVANA
Petroleumworld.com
02 28 06
Colombia's government and National Liberation Army rebels agreed
Monday to meet again for exploratory peace talks in April in Cuba,
after overcoming differences that threatened the process.
Colombia's High Peace Commissioner Luis Carlos Restrepo and rebel
military leader Antonio Garcia said in a statement that the secound
round of talks had gone well and ended a day earlier than expected.
The talks in Havana nearly foundered, until the government granted
political status to Garcia and two other negotiators for the National
Liberation Army (ELN) so that they would not be arrested during
talks.
The government dropped its demand for a cease-fire as a prerequisite
to talks.
"There are differences between the government and the ELN,
but we are overcoming them," Garcia told reporters.
"Despite the difficulties, we are building confidence,"
Restrepo said during the same press conference.
The ELN is the smaller of Colombia's rebel bands, with 4,500 armed
irregulars. Thousands of ELN fighters demobilized a decade ago,
but a core of fighters continued. The ELN was once supported and
inspired by Cuba.
The larger Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), with
18,000 armed irregulars, has rejected talks with the government
of President Alvaro Uribe.
Both groups have battled the government since 1964.
AFP
02 27 06
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© 2006 AFP. All rights reserved
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