The peace agreement between the National Liberation Army (Eln) and the Columbian government seems to be going on the right way, even if the road to peace is still long. In this game lasting since December 2005, yesterday came the announcement that the government accepted this ‘temporary and ‘experimental’ accord, in order to ‘create an environment of peace and participation’ proposed by the guerrilla that is threatening the government from more than 40 years, together with the Farc (Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia).
        
At the same table. The set of the sixth negotiation between Eln and the government is again La Havana, Cuba. The main aim to achieve is a lasting peace. On one side, the high commissioner Luis Carlo Restrepo, head of the uribist delegation. On the other, Pablo Beltrán, member of the central command of the group. Yesterday he took the place of Antonio Garcia, the military chief of Eln, who could not be there. Firstly, Beltrán said that they do not want to considerate the area suggested by the government as the place in which gather the elenos. Secondly, he proposed to reach an agreement on the ideal place for everybody.
‘The government accepts this proposal and wants a verification which, in order to make it possible, needs the singling out of the right place’, maintained Restrepo, adding that the executive is ‘flexible about the place and willing to evaluate with them alternative options’.

Still far away. ‘This is an important proposal for the National Liberation Army’ explain the government spokesman ‘and we already have an answer, and we hope that this may help us to go further, using the same method. Each step forward must start with the complete ratification of what has been signed till now’. This is a clear reference to the 12 documents approved at the end of 2005, without the confirmation of which today’s opening ‘is useless’. Among them there is the financing agreement of the process, which includes a capital of 400,000 euros, created by the countries that are helping in the peace process.  This money will be used only under the supervision of UN programme for the development (Panud) of Colombia.

Moving upwards. However, there are many sharp disagreements between the two parties, mainly related to the methods and the issue of reintegration of the members of the guerrilla in the society. These disagreements are profound and they are made of reciprocal accusations and wary behaviours. After all, it is difficult for these two rivals, that are have been fighting for more than 40 years, to trust each other. Actually Beltrán openly stated that the dialogue is ‘grounding to a halt’. Restrepo answered that there is no news in this, because the relation with Eln is ‘in an extremely worrying situation from the very first day. The talks have been difficult during the last months’. In the high commissioner’s opinion, the only difference is that ‘since February, the two parties have decided to report every thing, so that the country and the whole world can understand all the domestic problems’. Today he added that: ‘Considering such difficult situation, we have always found a solution and we will be able to find one this time as well’.