US embassy cable - 05BOGOTA1081

C O N F I D E N T I A L BOGOTA 001081 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/01/2015 
TAGS: PTER, PREL, CO, ELN Peace Process 
SUBJECT: GOC LIKELY TO AUTHORIZE ELN MEETING WITH 
FACILITATOR IN MEXICO 
 
 
Classified By: Ambassador William B. Wood for reasons 1.4 
(b) and (d). 
 
1. (C) On January 29, GOC High Commissioner for Peace Luis 
Carlos Restrepo told Ambassador that the GOC was on the verge 
of an agreement with the National Liberation Army's (ELN) 
Central Command (COCE) to allow COCE representatives safe 
passage to Mexico to engage in face-to-face talks with 
Government of Mexico facilitator Ambassador Andres Valencia. 
According to Restrepo, the sides overcame the stumbling block 
presented by the GOC's demand for a prior ELN cease-fire by 
stipulating that neither the ELN nor GOC security forces 
would engage in "military actions" while COCE representatives 
were in Mexico.  Restrepo said Valencia would soon provide 
the GOC with the ELN's formal written proposal.  President 
Uribe had already given the green light to the proposal as 
Restrepo had explained it to him and Armed Forces Commander 
General Carlos Alberto Ospina. 
 
2. (C) Restrepo said the ELN representatives' trip to Mexico 
could last up to three weeks.  The issues for discussion with 
Valencia would be limited to preparations for face-to-face 
negotiations with the GOC and formalization of the ELN's 
unofficial cease-fire.  The discussions would be discrete, 
with the only press coverage being that of the Mexican 
Government.  Restrepo said the GOC planned to announce this 
process at the upcoming international donor's conference in 
Cartagena. 
 
WOOD