DATE=7/10/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-235263
TITLE=COLOMBIA REBELS (L ONLY)
BYLINE=GEORGE MEEK
DATELINE=RIO DE JANEIRO
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: COLOMBIAN PRESIDENT-ELECT ANDRES PASTRANA HAS FULFILLED
HIS CAMPAIGN PROMISE TO MEET PERSONALLY WITH LEFTIST GUERRILLA
LEADERS BEFORE HIS INAUGURATION. CORRESPONDENT GEORGE MEEK IN
OUR SOUTH AMERICA BUREAU REPORTS MR. PASTRANA IS THE FIRST
COLOMBIAN LEADER TO DO THIS IN THE THREE-DECADE-OLD GUERRILLA
WAR.
TEXT: PRESIDENT-ELECT PASTRANA SAYS HE AND THE LEADERS OF THE
REVOLUTIONARY ARMED FORCES -- KNOWN AS FARC -- AGREED TO BEGIN
PEACE NEGOTIATIONS WITHIN THREE MONTHS AFTER HE TAKES OFFICE.
// PASTRANA ACT WITH TRANSLATION //
IN THE MEETING I PRESENTED THE INTEGRAL PEACE PROPOSAL
THAT I HAD ANNOUNCED, AND THE DETERMINATION OF THE
GOVERNMENT THAT I WILL HEAD AS OF AUGUST 7TH TO FIND THE
RIGHT PATH TO BUILD A STABLE AND LASTING PEACE.
// END ACT //
WITH ASSISTANCE FROM THE RED CROSS, MR. PASTRANA MET AT AN
UNDISCLOSED JUNGLE LOCATION ON THURSDAY WITH FARC LEADERS MANUEL
MARULANDA AND JORGE BRICENO. BACK IN BOGOTA, MR. PASTRANA SHOWED
REPORTERS A SHORT VIDEO OF HIM GREETING THE REBEL LEADERS AND
SITTING AROUND A TABLE WITH THEM.
THE PRESIDENT-ELECT DECLINED TO GIVE ADDITIONAL DETAILS OF HIS
CONVERSATION, CITING THE NEED FOR DISCRETION.
OUTGOING COLOMBIAN PRESIDENT ERNESTO SAMPER CALLED THE MEETING A
VERY POSITIVE STEP THAT SHOWS THE PEACE PROCESS IS IRREVERSIBLE.
THE ENCOUNTER WAS ALSO WELCOMED BY POLITICAL, RELIGIOUS, AND
BUSINESS LEADERS, BUT SOME ANALYSTS CAUTIONED AGAINST FALSE
OPTIMISM, SAYING THE PEACE PROCESS WILL BE LONG AND DIFFICULT.
ON SUNDAY COLOMBIA'S SECOND LARGEST REBEL GROUP, THE NATIONAL
LIBERATION ARMY, WILL BEGIN PRELIMINARY PEACE CONVERSATIONS IN
GERMANY WITH A BROADLY BASED DELEGATION OF COLOMBIAN LEADERS.
(SIGNED)
NEB/GM/LTD/MMK
10-Jul-98 10:16 AM EDT (1416 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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