Norway on Wednesday hailed as "a historic opportunity" the agreement on starting negotiations between the Colombian government and the leftist National Liberation Army (ELN) guerrillas.

"It is very good news that a formal peace process with the ELN is opening. Reaching a peace agreement with the ELN will be crucial for ensuring lasting peace in Colombia," Norway's Minister of Foreign Affairs Borge Brende was quoted as saying in a statement.

The Colombian government and the ELN agreed earlier Wednesday to start formal peace negotiations. The breakthrough has been achieved after more than two years of confidential exploratory talks, in which Norway was one of the facilitators.

Norway, together with Brazil, Chile, Cuba, Ecuador and Venezuela, will act as guarantor countries in the formal peace negotiations, which will be held in these Latin American countries,  according to the statement.

"This is a historic opportunity for the country to bring an end to several decades of armed conflict," Brende said.

The agenda for the negotiations has six parts and emphasises the importance of active civil society participation on issues such as democracy and social change for peace.

The ELN is Colombia's second-largest guerrilla group after the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC). It has gained significant control of the territories left by the FARC because of the latter's ongoing peace process with the government.

Source:
courtesy of XINHUA NEWS AGENCY

by Xinhua News Agency

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