Colombian president proposes territorial ceasefire with ELN guerrilla group

BOGOTA, Colombia

The third round of peace talks between the Colombian government and the National Liberation Army (ELN) guerrilla group began Tuesday in Cuba.

Colombian President Gustavo Petro said the parties must work together to achieve significant progress for "total peace" which aims to bring together armed groups to initiate peace talks with all to end 60 years of violent conflict in the country.

“Peace processes always have to reach a cease-fire, without that there is no point in talking about peace. At some point they have to stop firing,” he said from Madrid, where he is on a state visit.

Petro launched a proposal to implement a territorial and progressive cease-fire.

"You can start with regional cease-fires and, as time goes by and trust is built, we can move on to extending them throughout the national territory," he said.

The parties will seek to move the agenda forward based on three key issues that will be discussed during almost one month of negotiation: a bilateral cease-fire, participation of society in the process and humanitarian relief.

Lead negotiator for the government, Otty Patino, has said the administration wants to prioritize a cease-fire agreement.

The ELN, however, has not shown an interest in making a deal and it has continued to attack and kill soldiers.

Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez said: "Cuba will support and help facilitate the agreement so that the parties can seize this historic opportunity."

Peace talks with the ELN began in 2017 in Ecuador during the government of Juan Manuel Santos.

Talks were interrupted in 2019 by former President Ivan Duque, one day after the group bombed a police academy in Bogota that killed 21 officers.

The first cycle of talks took place in Venezuela between November and December 2022. The second round was in Mexico in February and March.

Mexico, Venezuela, Chile, Norway and Brazil are guarantors of the peace talks, while Sweden, Germany, Switzerland and Spain act as "comrade" countries to support and cooperate in the process.