State Colombian and the National Liberation Army (ELN) announced this Monday that they have reached an agreement to extend the current ceasefire for another six months The two are minutes away from the expiration of a deal they agreed nationally and provisionally for six months and extended for another seven days last week.
The agreement also emphasizes that the ELN undertakes the following during this ceasefire period: “Unilateral and temporary suspension of economic withholdings”An unprecedented decision of the guerrilla. “The progress of this commitment depends on the progress of all agreements and the resolution of critical factors affecting the ceasefire,” underlining the commitment between the parties.
The agreement first became known a few hours after the closing of the sixth peace talks, which were scheduled to be held in Havana on Monday and serve as the closure of the round of talks in Cuba that has been going on for the last 22 years, was postponed. Starting from January. The text signed by the two delegations does not address progress on other important issues negotiated in the Cuban capital over the past two weeks, such as civil society participation or critical areas. These issues will likely be addressed at the close of the cycle and will be delayed until 10:00 local time (16:00 GMT) this Tuesday. At this time, it has not been announced who will attend this event on behalf of the parties or what other agreements have been reached.
extension of the ceasefire This was the crux of the peace talks in Cuba. At the end of the fifth round in Mexico, both sides declared in writing that they had the “will” to continue it despite differences of opinion on the details. The ELN asked for “guarantees” that the ceasefire would fulfill its “main function”. Improving the living conditions and human rights of the civilian population in conflict-affected areas. The Colombian Government, for its part, wanted to expand the terms and scope of prohibited acts of violence within the scope of the cessation of hostilities, with particular reference to economic withholding or kidnappings.
So far the ceasefire has been limited to a ban on acts of aggression against the other side and any actions not permitted by International Humanitarian Law (IHL), and the Government wants more, in the words of chief negotiator Vera Grabe, “beyond so-called acts of violation, such as abductions, those affecting the population”.
The ceasefire came into force on August 3. Overall reduction in violence in ColombiaAlthough it has its ups and downs, such as the kidnapping of Manuel Díaz, father of Liverpool footballer Luis Díaz, by the ELN, which creates uncertainty about the entire peace process.