Colombia opens peace talks with last active rebels, the ELNFebruary 8, 2017 - 12:08 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Members of Colombia's ELN left-wing rebel group and government negotiators have begun talks seeking to end more than five decades of conflict, BBC News reports. The negotiations were launched at a ceremony in the capital of Ecuador, Quito, where the talks will be held. Delegates stood side by side as the Colombian national anthem was played. The talks come just months after the government signed a peace agreement with Colombia's largest rebel group, the Farc. The chief ELN negotiator, Pablo Beltran, urged both sides to rally around the points that united them and leave aside their differences. The top government representative, Juan Camilo Restrepo, said he expected to draw from the lessons of the negotiations with the Farc to reach a peace accord with the ELN. They both agreed that this was a once-in-a-generation opportunity for Colombia to achieve peace. "Colombia and the world realise that it's very unlikely that this opportunity for peace will come before us again," said Mr Restrepo. He called on the rebels to officially suspend its kidnapping policy during the negotiations. The ELN relies on the ransom obtained from kidnappings or "retentions" to finance their activities. Top stories Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev arrived in Moscow on April 22 to hold talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". Partner news | Armenian delegation participating in NATO PA session The delegation is headed by Andranik Kocharyan, the chairman of the standing committee on defense and security matters. Schengen visa cost won’t change for Armenia – diplomat The increase in the cost of a Schengen visa will not apply to citizens of Armenia, a Foreign Ministry spokesperson has said. Yeremyan Projects opens state-of-the-art dairy production plant Yeremyan Projects officially launched the Yeremyan Products state-of-the-art milk processing plant in Yerevan on May 24. Armenian PM’s helicopter makes emergency landing in Vanadzor The helicopter transporting Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan made an emergency landing in Vanadzor. |