From: "Stasi" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: [Peoples War] Colombia: Prez Ready To Recieve Demilitarized Zone - Xinhua XINHUA - Peoples Republic of China Colombia President Ready to Receive Demilitarized Zone ======================================= BOGOTA, November 21 (Xinhua) -- Colombian President Andres Pastrana warned Wednesday that if the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) gives up the continuation of the peace process, his government will have to take over the demilitarized zone in the south of the country. Pastrana made the statement to respond to the FARC's ultimatum expiring on Wednesday, which the 16,500-strong rebel force delivered 2 weeks ago and presented a set of demands as a condition to continue with the peace process. "The government would have no other choice but receiving it," Pastrana said. But it would be "a serious political mistake" committed by the country's largest guerrilla organization, the president pointed out. The FARC requested in the ultimatum the suspension of military surveillance flights over the 42,000-square-kilometer demilitarized zone which the government ceded to the rebels in a bid to promote peace in November 1998. It also demanded the withdrawal of government troops stationed in the outskirts of the territory. It urged a clear position from the government of Pastrana on whether or not the FARC is a terrorist or a drug-trafficking group, as alleged by the U.S. government. Pastrana reiterated his determination to seek a negotiated solution to the 37-year guerrilla war, which has claimed 40,000 lives in the past decade alone. A day before, the leftist rebels finally agreed to meet on Wednesday with Jan Egeland, the U.N. top envoy for Colombia, and on Saturday to meet with the ambassadors from the countries facilitating the peace process. Analysts said that the FARC's decision to talk with the international delegates meant the ultimatum imposed on the government was effectively postponed. Yet there would be a waiting period before the results of the mentioned talks are known. Enditem _________________________________________________ KOMINFORM P.O. Box 66 00841 Helsinki Phone +358-40-7177941 Fax +358-9-7591081 http://www.kominf.pp.fi General class struggle news: [EMAIL PROTECTED] subscribe mails to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Geopolitical news: [EMAIL PROTECTED] subscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] __________________________________________________
