- Title: Colombia and ELN still willing to start peace talks, says Ecuador FM
- Date: 24th October 2016
- Summary: QUITO, ECUADOR (OCTOBER 24, 2016) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF ECUADOR'S FOREIGN MINISTRY ECUADOR'S FOREIGN MINISTER, GUILLAUME LONG, ENTERING NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) ECUADOR'S FOREIGN MINISTER, GUILLAUME LONG, SAYING: "First of all, Ecuador has always said it is at the disposition of the parties. If there is a willingness to negotiate, if there is willingness for dialogue between the Colombian government and the ELN, we're at their disposition. Up until now, as I speak, both the national government and the ELN have said they are willing to formally open a negotiating table on the 27th (of October) and to next week start these meetings between the two parties at the Cashapamba house. So once again, I insist, we are there. We know these things a very delicate." GENERAL OF NEWS CONFERENCE OFFICIAL MODERATING THE NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) ECUADOR'S FOREIGN MINISTER, GUILLAUME LONG, SAYING: "In accordance with the roadmap of the peace talks, the first round should last 45 days. So, during the 45 days from the 3rd of November on, we should have both delegations meeting together in Ecuador to reach the first results of this kind of dialogue." LONG LEAVING AT END OF NEWS CONFERENCE
- Embargoed: 8th November 2016 20:45
- Keywords: Colombia Ecuador peace ELN
- Location: QUITO, ECUADOR
- City: QUITO, ECUADOR
- Country: Ecuador
- Topics: Conflicts/War/Peace
- Reuters ID: LVA00155D79DV
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: The Colombian government and Colombia's National Liberation Army (ELN) are still willing to open the first round of peace talks outside Quito on Thursday (October 27), Ecuador's Foreign Minister Guillaume Long said on Monday (October 24).
Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos has said negotiations with Colombia's second largest rebel group will only begin "if the conditions are there" noting that the ELN still has not met pre conditions related to kidnappings.
"First of all, Ecuador has always said it is at the disposition of the parties. If there is a willingness to negotiate, if there is willingness for dialogue between the Colombian government and the ELN, we're at their disposition. Up until now, as I speak, both the national government and the ELN have said they are willing to formally open a negotiating table on the 27th (of October) and to next week start these meetings between the two parties at the Cashapamba house. So once again, I insist, we are there. We know these things a very delicate," Long said on Monday.
Delegates from the government and the ELN announced in March of this year that they would seek to start negotiations to end Latin America's longest-running armed conflict.
"In accordance with the roadmap of the peace talks, the first round should last 45 days. So, during the 45 days from the 3rd of November on, we should have both delegations meeting together in Ecuador to reach the first results of this kind of dialogue," Long added.
The talks, which could formally start as soon as November 3, would be independent of peace talks between the government and Colombia's largest rebel group, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or the FARC. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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