COLOMBIA 1/6/2004 15:32 URIBE FLOATS IDEA OF ROLE FOR MEXICO IN POSSIBLE NEGOTIATIONS WITH ELN GUERRILLAS Politics/Economy, Brief âThe transparency of Mexico and of its government in the fight against terrorism and the consolidation of democratic pluralism is a magnificent guarantee for a possible peace process,â said the Colombian President, Alvaro Uribe, floating the idea of a role for Mexico City in future negotiations between Bogotà and the guerrillas of ELN (National Liberation Army). During the recent European Union-Latin America and Caribbean summit in Guadalajara (Mexico), Uribe returned to the possibility of initiating talks with Colombiaâs second guerrilla formation. However, the idea of involving Mexico â a country âthat has closed to door on terrorism but left it open to peaceâ â represented a novelty. Mexican President Vicente Fox said that Uribe âknows that he can count on our support in any initiative that he might want to undertake aimed at finding a solutionâ to the conflict that has bloodied the South American country for four decades. Fox also confirmed that legal co-operation between the two States would be strengthened, saying that he was prepared to take additional measures to speed up the extradition process. âWe do not want our countries to be a haven for terrorists, guerrilla fighters or others, and we have the mechanisms to prevent this from happening,â he said. Instead, there was no reference to possible peace talks with Colombiaâs principal guerrilla movement, FARC (Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia). Meanwhile, a spokesman of ELNâs Central Command has said that the leaders are considering Uribeâs proposal.[LC]
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