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DATE=1/7/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-243919
TITLE=COLOMBIA PEACE TALKS (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=RHODA METCALFE
DATELINE=SAN VINCENTE, COLOMBIA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
INTRO:  LEADERS OF COLOMBIA'S LARGEST LEFT-WING REBEL GROUP -- 
THE REVOLUTIONARY ARMED FORCES OF COLUMBIA, OR THE "FARC" [PRON: 
FAHRK], MET WITH THE COUNTRY'S PRESIDENT TODAY (THURSDAY) FOR THE
FIRST ROUND OF PEACE TALKS HELD IN COLOMBIA IN MORE THAN 10 
YEARS.  AS RHODA METCALFE REPORTS, COLOMBIANS ARE FEELING A 
MOMENT OF GREAT HOPE, BUT THEY KNOW THERE ARE MANY OBSTACLES IN 
THE WAY.
TEXT: 
/// SFX: MUSIC IN AND UNDER ///
YOU WOULD THINK THE TOWN OF SAN VINCENTE WAS HAVING A CARNIVAL --
BANDS PLAYING, JUGGLERS, STREET ACTORS WALKING THROUGH THE CROWD 
ON STILTS.  WHAT DOESN'T FIT THE PICTURE IS THE HUNDREDS OF 
GUERRILLAS IN FULL CAMOUFLAGE GEAR LINING THE STREETS.  SOME HANG
OUT OF SECOND-STORY WINDOWS, THEIR MACHINE GUNS TRAINED ON THE 
VILLAGE SQUARE, READY TO DEFEND THEIR LEADERS, WHO HAVE COME TO 
THIS TOWN TO HAVE THEIR FIRST OFFICIAL MEETING WITH PRESIDENT 
ANDRES PASTRANA AND TO BEGIN PEACE TALKS.
                 /// PASTRANA ACT IN SPANISH ///
ADDRESSING THE CROWD, THE PRESIDENT SPOKE WITH GREAT OPTIMISM.  
"THE TIME FOR PEACE HAS COME", HE SAID, "AND NOTHING CAN STOP 
IT."  BUT GUERRILLA NEGOTIATOR JOAQUIN GOMEZ MADE IT CLEAR, THE 
FARC WILL ACCEPT  NOTHING  LESS THAN MAJOR ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL
RESTRUCTURING IN THE COUNTRY.
                  /// GOMEZ ACT IN SPANISH ///
"WE WANT PEACE WITHOUT HUNGER OR REPRESSION," HE SAID, "WITH 
LAND, HEALTH CARE AND HOUSING FOR THE PEOPLE."  
THE FARC IS ALSO DEMANDING A SHARE OF POLITICAL POWER.  THE 
COLOMBIAN GOVERNMENT IS STILL FAR FROM ACCEPTING SUCH AN IDEA.  
BUT THE MERE FACT OF THE SAN VINCENTE HAS SPARKED GREAT HOPES.
U-S AMBASSADOR CURTIS CAMMAN:
                       /// CAMMAN ACT ///
         WE BELIEVE IT IS THE BEST CHANCE THAT COLOMBIA HAS IN 
         THE LAST DECADE, AND MAYBE FOR THE NEXT DECADE, TO PUT 
         AN END TO THE CYCLE OF VIOLENCE.
                        /// END ACT /// 
THE ONE DISAPPOINTMENT WAS THAT MANUEL MARULANDA, THE SUPREME 
COMMANDER OF THE FARC, DID  NOT  APPEAR.  GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS 
ARE CLEARLY HOPING THIS WAS  NOT  A POLITICAL SNUB, BUT MERELY AN
INDICATION OF THE AGING REBEL LEADER'S FAILING HEALTH.  (SIGNED)
NEB/RM/ENE-T/WTW
07-Jan-99 6:13 PM EST (2313 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.