[NOTE: Text of Communique Number 1 issued by Colombian government
and Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia representatives in La Uribe,
Meta Department on 25 October 1999. -DG]
We consider that our country's priority is to attain
the reconciliation of all Colombians and to establish a state that is based
on social justice.
RADIO CADENA NACIONAL [Bogota Radio Station]
Monday, 25 October 1999
Peace negotiators issue communique after first meeting
Communique Number 1 of the Peace Negotiations Table
and National Topics Committee:
The spokesmen
of the national government and of the FARC-EP [Revolutionary Armed Forces
of Colombia-People's Army] at the peace talks and negotiations table hereby
inform the public of the following:
According to the first
point in the agenda, which was jointly agreed upon, the parties reiterate
their willingness and determination to work, through the Peace Negotiations
Table, on the "agenda for a change that will lead to a new Colombia" and
on a mechanism for citizens' participation in the peace process, which
will allow us to reach an agreement on the appropriate conditions to find
a politically-negotiated solution to Colombia's conflict.
We consider that our country's
priority is to attain the reconciliation of all Colombians and to establish
a state that is based on social justice.
We hereby state that in spite
of the difficulties that could arise, we will always continue to search
for solutions at the talks and negotiations table.
To keep the public duly informed,
we have agreed that we will prepare and issue joint communiques on the
meetings we hold to ensure that a single voice announces the decisions
we have reached.
A commission, comprising
National Topics Committee coordinators Nestor Humberto Martinez and Ivan
Rios, has been established to present to the Peace Negotiations Table a
proposal on the methodology to be implemented, logistical requirements,
and other issues they deem necessary.
The national government will
present a proposal for the peace process information programme that is
to be furthered to the consideration of the Peace Negotiations Table.
Likewise, the role of the
National Topics Committee was clearly established. It is a people's participation
mechanism in the peace process, will be managed by the negotiation table,
and does not have any decision-making authority on the issues contained
in the negotiations'agenda. Consequently, the National Topics Committee
will organize public meetings, consolidate information, examine options,
and make recommendations to the National Peace Negotiations Table.
Lastly, it was agreed that
a new meeting will be held in the jurisdiction of the San Vicente del Caguan
Municipality on Tuesday, 2nd November 1999.
|
