File image/RHC
By Josefina Arce
Cuba is once again the scene and participant of an important moment for the achievement of peace in Colombia. In Havana, the third round of negotiations of the Dialogue Table between the government of President Gustavo Petro and the insurgent National Liberation Army concludes.
And the Colombian president arrived in the Cuban capital, in a new demonstration of his commitment to achieve a total peace that will put an end to the wave of violence and allow healing the wounds of a country bled dry by decades of armed conflict.
The president had made the announcement of his trip to Cuban territory before hundreds of thousands of citizens, who gathered in the Plaza de Bolivar, in Bogota, supported his administration and government, which today is the object of political and judicial persecution to prevent political, social and economic reforms in favor of Colombians.
Since last May 2nd, the third cycle of these talks, which began last November in Venezuela and continued in Mexico from February to March of this year, was being held in Havana and finally moved to the Cuban capital.
Cuba has tirelessly accompanied Colombia in its search for peace. First with the government of former President Juan Manuel Santos and his dialogue with the once guerrilla Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia-People's Army and now with Petro.
It was precisely in the Cuban capital where in November 2016 the historic Peace Agreement was signed between the Santos executive and the FARC-EP.
The role played by the Greater of the Antilles in this process as guarantor country and venue of the talks was highlighted by the parties involved, which underlined its permanent commitment and neutrality.
The UN emphasized that the Greater Antilles, together with Norway, another of the guarantors, has been one of the countries most committed to the peace process in Colombia.
The seriousness and responsibility demonstrated led our country to also be a guarantor in the current talks. In fact, when announcing Havana as the next venue in Mexico, the Dialogue Table stated in a communiqué that "Its permanent and neutral commitment to the reconciliation of Colombians demonstrates, against any accusation that could cast doubt on it, that Cuba is a forum of hope and peace for the rest of the continent".
Cuba has worked seriously and fulfilled its obligations as guarantor and host of the talks. Great is its satisfaction for the progress and concrete results of the dialogue that will lead to peace in Colombia, a country with which we are united by ties of friendship.