GOC LIKELY TO AUTHORIZE ELN MEETING WITH

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
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