The ELN delegation is in Mexico to start the dialogue

Guerrilla peace delegation National Liberation Army (ELN) is already in Mexico “willing” to start the fifth round of negotiations with the Colombian government, which is in crisis because of the kidnappings committed by that armed group.

This was reported by the guerrillas this Thursday in a short message published on a social network with the government”.

The government’s peace delegation announced last Friday that representatives of both teams will meet starting today to devote their efforts to “overcoming the crisis that the dialogue process is currently going through, caused by the abduction of Mr. Luis Manuel Díaz”, father of Liverpool footballer Luis Díaz.

According to official data, 32 people were victims of kidnapping this year by the ELN, for the purpose of extortion, and at least four of them remain in the hands of that guerrilla.

In this regard, the ELN stated in two letters published this week that there is a “critical” moment at the negotiating table that “affects the implementation of the agreements partially signed so far, as well as the development of the negotiation agenda.”

Because of this, the start of the fifth cycle of negotiations in Mexico has been postponed several times.

“It is true that the wrongful detention done in Barrancas – which fortunately could be resolved without affecting lives – introduced a new element of crisis into this peace process, not only because it was a mistake by the ELN, but because the national government decided adding new mistakes to this first one,” added the guerrilla.

ELN letters became famous after the senator Ivan Čepedapart of the Government’s negotiating team, said he would meet with members of that delegation.

In this new cycle, the publication of the first quarterly report on the bilateral ceasefire for 180 days, which began on August 3, is expected, and which will have the opportunity to continue, after the evaluation of the parties.