Delegates from the Colombian government, the Segunda Marquetalia, and the guarantor and accompanying countries during the ceremony launching peace negotiations in Caracas on June 24. 2024. Photo: X/@NoruegaenCOL.
In Caracas, the government of Colombia initiated peace negotiations with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) dissident group known as the Segunda Marquetalia-Bolivarian Army, a reference to the place in Colombia where the FARC was born.
In a joint statement read this Monday, June 24, it was established who will make up the respective delegations: for the government of Colombia, the delegation will include Armando Novoa García, head of the delegation; Gloria Arias Nieto; Parmenio Cuéllar Bastidas; María Camila Moreno Múnera; retired colonel Jaime Joaquín Ariza Girón; Tulio Alberto Gómez Giraldo; and Gabriel Bustamante Peña.
Meanwhile, the representation for the Segunda Marquetalia–Bolivarian Army will be made up of Commander Walter Mendoza, head of the delegation; Yurleni Guerrero; Andrés Allende; Andrés Rojas; Jairo Marín; and Andrés Guerrero.
The guarantor countries for this dialogue process are Venezuela, Cuba, and Norway.
“The accompanying institutions will be the special representative of the secretary general of the United Nations Organization and the Episcopal Conference of Colombia,” the text states.
Guarantor countries’ joint statement
Subsequently, a joint statement from the guarantor and accompanying countries of the process was read, in which they expressed their “satisfaction with the beginning of the peace dialogue between the Colombian government and the Second Marquetalia in Caracas, Venezuela.”
“We appreciate the trust placed in us, and we reiterate our commitment to the process that begins today and the construction of peace in Colombia. This is an important step to achieve peace in Colombia,” read the statement.
Venezuelan communique
Through a statement issued on Monday, the Venezuela government welcomed the historic beginning of the peace process as part of Colombia’s “total peace” policy. The text of the communiqué was disclosed by Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yván Gil on social media.
#Comunicado 📢 El Presidente Constitucional de la República Bolivariana de Venezuela, @NicolasMaduro, el Pueblo y el Gobierno Bolivariano, saludan con satisfacción el inicio del proceso de diálogos de paz entre el Gobierno de la República de Colombia y la Segunda Marquetalia,… pic.twitter.com/gMqBoOCQHa
— Yvan Gil (@yvangil) June 24, 2024
“The constitutional President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Nicolas Maduro, the People, and the Bolivarian government welcome with satisfaction the beginning of the peace dialogue process between the government of the Republic of Colombia and the Second Marquetalia, as part of the policy of Total Peace promoted by President Gustavo Petro,” the minister wrote on social media.
According to a statement attached to the post, “the most cordial welcome is given to the delegations of the government of the Republic of Colombia and the Second Marquetalia and the representation of the governments of the Republic of Cuba and the Kingdom of Norway, which together with Venezuela participate as guarantor countries, as well as the accompanying institutions of this Dialogue Table.”
Venezuela, in its capacity as the host country of this first cycle of negotiations, “takes this opportunity to reiterate its commitment to continue working vigorously for the reconciliation of our beloved Colombia and to make our Latin America and the Caribbean a territory of peace, union, and prosperity,” reads the statement.
(Últimas Noticias) by Maria Eugenia Rodriguez with Orinoco Tribune content
Translation: Orinoco Tribune
OT/JRE/SL
