Iván Cepeda says the difficulties of negotiating with the ELN are exacerbated by a “permanent campaign of lies”

In his address to the United Nations General Assembly on September 24, 2024, Colombian President Gustavo Petro addressed major global issues. He made an urgent call to address global warming and the humanitarian crisis in Gaza as a result of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. In addition, he pointed to the stagnation of peace talks with the ELN following the group’s recent attack on a military base in Arauca.

In this sense, one of the negotiators of this guerrilla, Iván Cepeda, wrote a report about it a few days after the words of the Colombian president. In a post on his X account, the senator said that negotiations with the National Liberation Army (ELN) had to face a “sustained campaign of lies”.

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A lawmaker close to the national government said in his publication The Congressman, however, assured that despite the difficulties he faced, the option remains open.

In addition, he highlighted the work of Vera Grabe, the government’s negotiator with the ELN. “In addition to the problems associated with the difficult negotiations with the ELN, there is a permanent campaign of lies and rumors trying to destroy the process. Despite these daily adversities, we have managed to move forward and keep the possibility of dialogue open. The persistent, generous and brave approach of Vera Grabe, who leads the government’s peace delegation, was essential for this. All our recognition and gratitude goes to her,” the senator said on his X account.

In fact, when the suspension of talks was announced on September 18, Iván Cepeda, a senator, said that alternative ways would be explored to find a solution to the armed conflict affecting Colombia.

“At the moment, we have announced a suspension of the process and dialogues that are ongoing. However, the term is accurate, it must be a gesture that allows not only the government but also the society to believe that we are really in the peace process (…) if there is no dialogue table, then of course there are other dynamics and this is what President Gustavo Petro expressed very clear.the lawmaker said about it in an interview in Snail Radio.

In the same space, Cepeda explained that the dialogues could take place again, “as long as we can be sure that the ELN has the will for peace, of course progress can be made in this sense; “How can it also happen that it doesn’t happen, and well, then we are in a situation of suspension (…), that means it has to be a gesture that really indicates that we are really in a peace process. “

legislator, a key member of the negotiating team expressed the executive’s willingness to evaluate new approaches and strategies to end the long-running confrontation that has plagued various regions of the country.

The head of state commented on the words of the President of the Republic in an interview in Spectator that “what we have had so far is total war, the few spaces of peace that have been achieved in Colombia, such as the National Front, the demobilization of the M-19 and the peace accords with the FARC, are small spaces in which “The possibility of ending the violence in Colombia it was open and it was not possible.”

The lack of effectiveness in mitigating the violence has created a period of armed conflict in the territory that has lasted for more than 50 years for the Colombian ruler. He added to the above that “no country in the world has experienced 75 years of violence, the only country is Colombia”.