DATE=1/5/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-243803
TITLE=COLOMBIA TALKS (L ONLY)
BYLINE=GEORGE MEEK
DATELINE=RIO DE JANEIRO
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: COLOMBIA'S PEACE COMMISSIONER, VICTOR RICARDO, SAYS AN
END TO THREE DECADES OF GUERRILLA WARFARE IS NOT JUST AROUND THE
CORNER, DESPITE PLANS TO LAUNCH FORMAL TALKS WITH THE REBELS ON
THURSDAY. WE HAVE DETAILS FROM V-O-A'S CORRESPONDENT GEORGE
MEEK IN OUR SOUTH AMERICA BUREAU.
TEXT: MR. RICARDO WARNS AGAINST RAISING FALSE HOPES ABOUT EARLY
RESULTS FROM THE FIRST TALKS WITH THE REVOLUTIONARY ARMED FORCES
OF COLOMBIA (FARC) IN SIX YEARS. BUT HE SAYS THE TALKS OFFES A
GREAT OPPOSTUNITY THAT MUST NOT BE WASTED, BECAUSE THE PEOPLE
WANT PEACE.
HUNDREDS OF NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL OBSERVERS WILL BE ON HAND
FOR THE OPENING OF THE DIALOGUE IN THE REMOTE JUNGLE TOWN OF SAN
VICENTE DEL CAGUAN, 300 KILOMETERS SOUTH OF BOGOTA. THE ARMED
FORCES HAVE TEMPORARILY WITHDRAWN FROM THIS REBEL-CONTROLLED
TERRITORY WHERE THE MAJOR CROP IS COCA, THE RAW MATERIAL OF
COCAINE.
PRESIDENT ANDRES PASTRANA WILL ATTEND THE CEREMONY. IT IS LIKELY
BUT NOT CONFIRMED THAT FARC LEADER MANUEL MARULANDA, ALIAS "SURE
SHOT", WILL ALSO BE THERE. THE TWO MEN MET AT A SECRET LOCATION
IN JULY, BEFORE PRESIDENT PASTRANA TOOK OFFICE. A VIDEO OF THE
EVENT SHOWS HIM GIVING THE REBEL LEADER A COOL EMBRACE.
THE PURPOSE OF THE DIALOGUE IS TO DEFINE THE AGENDA, TIMETABLE,
AND MECHANISMS FOR PEACE TALKS. THE GUERRILLAS WANT POLITICAL,
ECONOMIC, SOCIAL, AND AGRARIAN REFORM. THEY HAVE SAID THEY WILL
CONTINUE FIGHTING WHILE THEY NEGOTIATE.
FARC IS THE OLDEST AND LARGEST REBEL GROUP IN COLOMBIA. IT WAS
FOUNDED IN 1964 AND HAS AN ESTIMATED 12-TO-15 THOUSAND ARMED
GUERRILLAS. LAST YEAR IT INFLICTED HEAVY CASUALTIES ON GOVERNMENT
TROOPS NEAR SAN VICENTE DE CAGUAN, AND IN OTHER AREAS.
/// REST OPTIONAL ///
THE OFFICIAL REBEL REPRESENTATIVES TO THE TALKS WILL BE RAUL
REYES, FABIAN RAMIREZ, AND JOAQUIN GOMEZ. THE GOVERNMENT WILL
BE REPRESENTED BY A BIPARTISAN DELEGATION COMPOSED OF CONGRESS
PRESIDENT FABIO VALENCIA, BUSINESS LEADER NICANOR RESTREPO,
ATLANTIC DEPARTMENT GOVERNOR RODOLFO ESPINOSA, AND FORMER FOREIGN
MINISTER MARIA EMMA MEJIA. (SIGNED)
NEB/GM/WDC/PT
05-Jan-99 3:46 PM EST (2046 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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