Havana, Dec 21, 2005. (Prensa Latina) Representatives of the Colombian government and the insurgent National Liberation Army (ELN) reaffirmed in Havana that they want successful talks leading to peace in Colombia.
Luis Carlos Restrepo, high-ranking Colombian official for peace, and Antonio Garcia from the ELN proclaimed the success of the talks held and agreed to meet again in January.
Garcia said the most important was that the Colombian government sent a representative, and described the meeting in Havana as held in an atmosphere where peace allows balanced and open participation.
The ELN leader expressed his admiration and respect for President Fidel Castro and deep appreciation to the Cuban government for offering its territory as site of this important meeting.
The ELN and the Colombian government expressed their will to support the formal process of positive negotiations after this first step and beyond the existing differences.
Restrepo said his government would work carefully, constructively and objectively to succeed, and that Colombian President Alvaro Uribe has kept abreast of the talks and made the necessary decisions.
During their stay in Havana, the delegations have held several exchanges attended by representatives of Switzerland, Spain and Norway as accompanying states.