- Title: Colombia promises security guarantees to Ecuador following ELN peace talks
- Date: 19th January 2017
- Summary: QUITO, ECUADOR (JANUARY 19, 2017) (REUTERS) ****WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** ECUADOREAN FOREIGN MINISTER, GUILLAUME LONG, AND COLOMBIAN FOREIGN MINISTER, MARIA ANGELA HOLGUIN, ARRIVING FOR CONFERENCE, ACCOMPANIED BY MILITARY PERSONAL FROM BOTH COUNTRIES FOREIGN MINISTERS DURING NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) ECUADOREAN FOREIGN MINISTER, GUILLAUME LONG, SAYING: "We have established a bilateral mechanism to evaluate the consequences in Ecuador of the peace process in Colombia. This mechanism involves, in first instance, an exchange of information, monitoring of the situation and the active insertion of Ecuador in the development of the peace process." FOREIGN MINISTERS DURING NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) COLOMBIAN FOREIGN MINISTER, MARIA ANGELA HOLGUIN, SAYING: "We want you (Ecuadoreans) to feel calm with the commitment of the Colombian government, and the commitment of the armed forces, by which we will have a safe border, by which there will be no negative repercussions for Ecuador in the peace process, on the contrary, there are many benefits, and our working together is very important." VARIOUS OF REPORTERS AT CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) ECUADOREAN FOREIGN MINISTER, GUILLAUME LONG, SAYING: "The infrastructure, logistics, and security conditions have been guaranteed since October. As such, we already have the venues, we have worked fairly well with three important centres, one for the Colombian government delegation, one for the ELN and another centre for the six guarantor countries, there are 12 guarantors, and in reality that should not change. We are talking about the outskirts of Quito, a zone which offers all the security conditions, all parties are in agreement. The Ecuadorean government has ensured that the (necessary) security conditions are provided. The Colombian government and the ELN have accepted the logistics." FOREIGN MINISTERS SHAKING HANDS DURING OFFICIAL PHOTOGRAPH VARIOUS OF FOREIGN MINISTERS SPEAKING WITH OTHER MINISTERS FROM BOTH COUNTRIES
- Embargoed: 2nd February 2017 20:57
- Keywords: ELN Ecuador Colombia peace talks security guarantees
- Location: QUITO, ECUADOR
- City: QUITO, ECUADOR
- Country: Colombia
- Topics: Conflicts/War/Peace
- Reuters ID: LVA0015ZR05S3
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Colombia's foreign minister assured her Ecuadorean counterpart on Thursday (January 19) that all security guarantees would be in place as the latter country prepares to host delayed peace talks between the Colombian government and rebel group the ELN, beginning February 7.
Colombia's Maria Angela Holguin met with Ecuadorean Foreign Minister, Guillaume Long, in Quito on Thursday, a day after announcing the start of the talks with Colombia's second-largest guerrilla group, on the condition they release a politician being held hostage.
Long said Ecuador would cooperate on several levels of the development of the peace process.
"We have established a bilateral mechanism to evaluate the consequences in Ecuador of the peace process in Colombia. This mechanism involves, in first instance, an exchange of information, monitoring of the situation and the active insertion of Ecuador in the development of the peace process, on the contrary, there are many benefits, and our working together is very important," said Long.
The 2,000-strong ELN is considered a terrorist group by the United States and European Union. The group has kidnapped hundreds of people over its 52 years to raise funds for the war and to use as bargaining chips with the government.
Holguin was emphatic on ensuring that the security of Ecuadoreans would not be compromised by taking a prominent role in the process.
"We want you (Ecuadoreans) to feel calm with the commitment of the Colombian government, and the commitment of the armed forces, by which we will have a safe border, by which there will be no negative repercussions for Ecuador in the peace process, on the contrary, there are many benefits, and our working together is very important," said Holguin.
Sit-down negotiations had originally been expected to begin on Nov. 3. Long said logistical plans had been in place since then and had been accepted by all parties.
"The infrastructure, logistics, and security conditions have been guaranteed since October. As such, we already have the venues, we have worked fairly well with three important centres, one for the Colombian government delegation, one for the ELN and another centre for the six guarantor countries, there are 12 guarantors, and in reality that should not change. We are talking about the outskirts of Quito, a zone which offers all the security conditions, all parties are in agreement. The Ecuadorean government has ensured that the (necessary) security conditions are provided. The Colombian government and the ELN have accepted the logistics," said Long.
The National Liberation Army (ELN) will release politician Odin Sanchez on Feb. 2, meeting a repeated government requirement, negotiators said in a joint statement in Quito, Ecuador near where the talks will take place.
The ELN will release Sanchez to the International Committee of the Red Cross. He has been captive for more than eight months.
Founded by radical Catholic priests and inspired by Cuba's 1959 revolution, the ELN has been in on-and-off preliminary talks with the government since 2014. The rebels have continued to bomb oil installations, but in recent months have released other captives. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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