Colombia´s ELN rebel group favors bilateral ceasefire if peace talks resume

Colombia's top negotiator for the National Liberation Army rebel group (ELN) Pablo Beltran gestures during an interview with Reuters, in Havana, Cuba, September 14, 2022. REUTERS/Alexandre Meneghini

HAVANA (Reuters) - Colombia´s National Liberation Army (ELN) favors a bilateral ceasefire to pave the way for renewed peace talks, the leftist guerilla group´s top negotiator told Reuters in Havana on Wednesday, and said the rebels would be united upon returning to the bargaining table.

Pablo Beltran, who leads the ELN´s delgation in Cuba, said he and other delegates in Havana since talks collapsed in 2019 would return home in the coming weeks - given proper assurances of safety - and together with comrades in the jungle fine tune their strategy ahead of coming negotiations.