The UN welcomes the resumption of peace talks between the ELN and the Government of Colombia

MADRID, 5 Oct. (EUROPA PRESS) -

The Secretary General of the United Nations, António Guterres, celebrated this Tuesday the decision announced by the Government of Colombia and the National Liberation Army (ELN) to resume the peace talks.

Guterres' spokesman, Stéphane Dujarric, has indicated that the secretary "is hopeful that Colombians can once again demonstrate that even the most entrenched conflicts can be resolved through dialogue," according to a UN press release.

Likewise, he has urged "both parties to make the most of this opportunity." In this sense, Dujarric has communicated that the United Nations values ​​the agreement positively, which he considers "fundamental" to achieve peace.

Guterres has also expressed "his deep gratitude to Cuba, Norway and Venezuela," who have participated in the dialogue process and have attended as guarantor countries.

It has also reiterated the willingness of the United Nations to provide assistance in the dialogues and subsequent agreements, through its special representative in the Latin American country.

The guerrillas of the National Liberation Army (ELN) and the Government of Colombia confirmed this Tuesday from the Venezuelan capital, Caracas, the resumption of the peace talks, abandoned since 2019.

Delegates from both parties called a press conference in Caracas, from where, accompanied by representatives of the Catholic Church, as well as Cuba and Norway -- guarantor countries -- they confirmed the resumption of talks.

Later, the Colombian president, Gustavo Petro, shared a joint statement on his social networks in which both the Government and the ELN confirmed the return to the path of the agreements and progress made as a result of the 2016 talks. "Announce the reestablishment of the dialogue process after the first week of November 2022", adds the letter, which also states that the participation of society in the peace talks is "essential".