Petro government and ELN talk with guarantors before meeting in Caracas

The delegations of Colombian government and the National Liberation Army (ELN) guerrilla They spoke this Friday in Caracas with representatives of the guarantor and companion countries of the peace negotiations, before the extraordinary meeting that will begin this Saturday, the press team of the armed group assured EFE.

Although the debate was scheduled to start on Friday, the source explained that this first day served for discussions with the mediators of the process, without direct dialogue between the parties to the conflict.

Likewise, representatives of Gustavo Petro’s Executive and the guerrilla are expected to install the “extraordinary round” of talks, which will run until April 22.

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Asked about the reports of the suspension of the event reported in some media outlets, the ELN press team assured EFE that there has been no such interruption and that, on the contrary, ““it is normal” that the parties have invested the first day in dialogue with the companions and guarantors.

The ELN asked this week for an “extraordinary meeting” instead of holding a normal cycle due to the “critical state” of the peace process that, in the opinion of that armed group, is mired in a “freezing.”