(From left) Francisco Galan, commissioner of the Colombian National Liberation Army (ELN); Moritz Akerman, university economics professor, participating as mediator in the talks; and Antonio Garcia, a top commander of the 5,000-strong ELN, meet at a hotel in Havana yesterday. - REUTERS
HAVANA (AP):
SILENCE SURROUNDED preparations in Cuba for preliminary peace talks scheduled for Friday between Colombia's government and the nation's second-largest rebel group.
Activity seemed to be centred in the western outskirts of Havana, in a restricted residential area of lakes and rolling green hills near the city's convention centre.
Colombian government officials and representatives of the National Liberation Army, or ELN rebel group, were arriving at the Cuban capital throughout the week but none made public declarations in Havana.
A top Cuban official downplayed his own country's role in the upcoming meetings.
"What we are doing is simply facilitating, to help dialogue move along," Parliament Speaker Ricardo Alarcon told The Associated Press late Tuesday at an art exhibit opening. "But what happens here is strictly a Colombian issue."
The fact that Cuba is hosting the talks, shows the Caribbean nation's support, Alarcon said.
"It's further proof of our desire for the fulfilment of peace in Colombia," he said. "Whatever we can do, along with other collaborating countries, we will do."
