March 10 |

The delegations of the Government of Colombia and the National Liberation Army (ELN) closed this Friday the second cycle of dialogues for the search for peace, which took place in Mexico, during a ceremony in which the Colombian Vice President, Francia Márquez, participated.

The parties informed the public that they agreed on a new agenda for Peace in Colombia (Mexico Agreement), as well as agreements on the initial elements for the participation of society and, finally, on initial elements for the ceasefire between the Government and the ELN.

They then proceeded to the signing of the Mexico Agreement, a step which corresponded to the chief negotiators of the Government delegation, Otty Patiño, and the ELN, Pablo Beltrán.

After the signing of the agreement, Beltrán emphasized that the search for peace was fed by the will for change of the majorities and the youth, as evidenced during the national strike of 2021.

Advertisement

20240920_mh_amnistia_fiscal_728x90

20240813_lechematerna_728x91

20240701_vacunacion_728x90

20231124_etesal_728x90_1

domfuturo_netview-728x90

20240604_dom_728x90

20230816_dgs_728x90

20230601_agenda_primera_infancia_728X90

CEL

He pointed out that the dialogue agenda addressed between the parties is committed to the interests of the millions of victims of the armed conflict and the popular majorities. He urged everyone to seek a lasting peace and to participate in the national effort to have a country in which exile caused by political persecution and economic hardship ceases.

He expressed the ELN’s commitment to help overcome the armed conflict and contribute to the transformations of society, an effort in which he invited to empower women and listen to all victims to contribute to reconciliation.

For his part, Patiño pledged that the population, with its participation and initiative, will give the necessary rhythm to the peace dialogues.

He explained that for the third cycle of dialogues, the challenge will be to enter into more substantive issues, to build a pilot peace and apply it in some territory, to advance in the bilateral and national ceasefire, to achieve more inclusive participation and to strengthen the social rule of law, among other aspirations.

Regarding the third cycle, he recalled that it will take place in Havana and thanked Cuba for its unwavering support for peace in Colombia for several decades.

Advertisement

20240920_mh_amnistia_fiscal_728x90

20240813_lechematerna_728x91

20240701_vacunacion_728x90

20231124_etesal_728x90_1

domfuturo_netview-728x90

20240604_dom_728x90

20230816_dgs_728x90

20230601_agenda_primera_infancia_728X90

CEL

Vice-President Francia Márquez also welcomed Cuba’s gesture and said that the armed conflict has destroyed everyone and, in view of that certainty, there is no other way but to assume the will for change and total peace promoted by the Government of President Gustavo Petro.

He detailed that this implies dedicating to education, health, food, water and electricity services and to create infrastructures to improve life the substantial resources that were previously dedicated to war.

He stated that the Government welcomes this new dialogue agenda to solve the armed confrontation, to advance in implementing a humanitarian attention plan and to transform the structures that led the country to believe that the solution was through arms.

She recalled that the Government undertook an agenda of transformation and development that also seeks to preserve our big house and protect the country that future generations will receive.

She called on all Colombian women, who make up 52 percent of the population, to participate in the effort to advance towards total peace and thus prevent war, violence, pain and suffering from continuing in the social and political fabric of the country.

Advertisement

20240920_mh_amnistia_fiscal_728x90

20240813_lechematerna_728x91

20240701_vacunacion_728x90

20231124_etesal_728x90_1

domfuturo_netview-728x90

20240604_dom_728x90

20230816_dgs_728x90

20230601_agenda_primera_infancia_728X90

CEL

The Mexican Foreign Minister, Marcelo Ebrard, pointed out that the dialogues to find peace in Colombia point to hope and the future. He thanked his country for the opportunity to contribute to peace in a brotherly and dear people, united by a common cause.