From: "Stasi" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: [Peoples War] Colombia: Xinhua Reports ---------------------------------------- XINHUA - Peoples Republic of China ---------------------------------------- COLOMBIAN NEWS 1) Ambassadors Resume Support for Colombia's Peace Process 2) Colombian Government, Guerrillas to Define Truce Agenda 3) Colombian Guerrillas Shrug off EU's Visa Warning 4) Colombian Rebel Group to End Mass Civilian Kidnappings 1) Ambassadors Resume Support for Colombia's Peace Process =========================================== BOGOTA, October 8 (Xinhua) -- The ambassadors of the 10 countries of the "Facilitating Commission" in the Colombian peace process Monday resumed their support for negotiations between the government and the country's largest guerrilla group, Caracol radio reported. The diplomats, gathered after a call by Colombian President Andres Pastrana, reiterated in a declaration their support for the peace process and announced their participation in future peace talks between the government and the leftist Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC). The declaration said Friday's agreement between the government and the FARC was "a navigational chart and gives hope to the ( peace) process." The agreement provides for a six-month cease-fire and recommendations to combat rightist paramilitary groups, bitter rivals of the FARC. The countries assisting in the peace process in Colombia announced on September 19 the indefinite postponement of a meeting with the FARC originally scheduled for September 26 until the release of the German hostages it has taken since July. Three German nationals, who worked for a technical cooperation agency of the German government, were kidnapped in the southwestern province of Cauca on July 18. One captive managed to escape in late September, while the other two remain in rebel hands. The diplomats of the "Facilitating Commission" countries -- Canada, Cuba, France, Italy, Mexico, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and Venezuela -- expressed as well their satisfaction in Pastrana's extension of the life of the demilitarized zone in southern Colombia, which has been set to promote talks between the government and the FARC. Enditem 2) Colombian Government, Guerrillas to Define Truce Agenda ========================================== BOGOTA, October 8 (Xinhua) -- Colombia's government and the guerrilla group Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), will define an agenda this week aimed at signing a cease-fire accord after prolonging the life of the demilitarized zone, special advisor for Peace Affairs Juan G. Uribe said on Monday. Uribe said the new extension is important to the resumption of talks and concrete issues such as the end to mass kidnappings and hostilities. Colombian President Andres Pastrana Sunday extended the life of the neutral zone in the south till January 20, 2002, to continue the peace talks with the FARC which was initiated three years ago. Pastrana also announced a series of special measures to guarantee no abuses and crimes committed in the Switzerland-sized area, such as setting up blocks on roads and rivers. The Air Force has also been instructed to intensify controls over the airspace. The FARC is the largest guerrilla group in Colombia. It has been accused of abuses including kidnappings, extortion, murders and drug trafficking in the 42,000-square-kilometer neutral zone. Enditem 3) Colombian Guerrillas Shrug off EU's Visa Warning ==================================== BOGOTA, October 8 (Xinhua) -- Colombia's largest guerrilla group, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), Monday defied a warning by the European Union (EU) that the 15-nation bloc would cancel the visas issued to their leaders if the group did not free the two kidnapped German aid workers. "The decision which the European Union could take depends on themselves; we continue in the peace fight for Colombia," said Raul Reyes, the group's main spokesman. Juan Camilo Restrepo, Colombian ambassador to France, said last week that the EU would cancel the visas issued to the rebels if the FARC did not free two German citizens they kept in captivity since July. Fresh from Paris for a forum on coffee industry, the ambassador said: "If this release doesn't take place, the FARC members could lose their visas and permits to travel inside the EU member countries." But he noted that this "ultimatum" does not mean that the EU would give up their support for the peace process in Colombia. German ambassador to Colombia Peter von Jagow said his government was considering the possibility of recommending to the EU plenum that entry of FARC representatives into European territories be denied. Three German citizens working for the German government's international cooperation agency, GTZ, were kidnapped in the southwestern province of Cauca on July 18. One escaped in late September and the two others are still in FARC hands. On August 16, the 16,500-strong FARC claimed responsibility for the kidnapping of the German aid workers. Enditem 4) Colombian Rebel Group to End Mass Civilian Kidnappings ========================================== BOGOTA, October 5 (Xinhua) -- Rebels of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) announced late Friday that they will put an end to mass civilian kidnappings, as the Colombian government and the country's largest guerrilla group have agreed to continue the peace process. The FARC and the government have also given their agreement to "immediately" study the possibility of a cease-fire, official sources said. According to reports from Los Pozos, in the heart of the demilitarized zone in south Colombia, where presidential peace commissioner Camilo Gomez and FARC representatives have held various meetings during last three days, the announcement made it possible the extension of the duration of the 42,000-square- kilometer demilitarized zone. The duration of the neutral zone expires on October 7. The rebels have been accused of abuses including kidnappings, extortion, murder and drug-trafficking there. Friday's 9-point agreement, which includes a six-month cease- fire and recommendations to combat rightist paramilitary groups, would mark "a new direction" for peace talks, said Gomez said. The 16,500-strong FARC also agreed to end mass kidnappings of civilians while insisting that abduction was not a policy of the organization. The recent killing of former Culture Minister Consuelo Araujo after her kidnapping by alleged FARC members on September 24, has put in jeopardy the peace talks between the government and the rebels. Colombia has been ravaged by a civil war in the past 37 years. About 40,000 people have died in clashes during the last decade alone. Enditem ------------------------ Yahoo! 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