Comunicado FARC-Gobierno del viaje a Europa, 23 de febrero de 2000

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Country/entity: Colombia
Region: Americas
Agreement name: Comunicado FARC-Gobierno del viaje a Europa, 23 de febrero de 2000
Date: 23 Feb 2000
Agreement status: Multiparty signed/agreed
Interim arrangement: Yes
Agreement/conflict level: Intrastate/intrastate conflict
Colombian Conflict (1964 - )
The Colombian conflict is really a set of conflicts and the peace agreements reflect both different processes relating to different conflict groups and dyads, and processes taking place at different times in a complex peace process history. The Colombian civil war has its roots in the late 1940s and the violent infighting between liberal and the conservative factions. Emerging from the liberal tradition with a thorough grounding in nationalist communist ideology, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia—People's Army (FARC) began its armed insurrection against the Colombian government in 1964. Other left-wing guerrillas emerged as well, most notably the socialist/populist M-19, which would later be integrated into the formal political system in the peace process of 1990s; the National Liberation Army (ELN), which has strong roots in liberation theology, and the Maoist Ejército Popular de Liberación (EPL) (also part of the 1990 process, less successfully). Several stages of peace processes were undertaken by the various sides, which were further complicated by the emergence of right-wing paramilitary ‘self-defence’ forces. The peace agreement between the Colombian government under President Uribe and the main alliance of the paramilitary groups, the United Self-Defence Forces of Colombia (AUC), concluded in 2005 and is still heavily disputed as several remnants are still active, but now subsumed under the heading ‘Bacrim’ (Bandas criminales). In addition, FARC and ELN maintain a military presence, but both demonstrate a strong interest in completing successful peace negotiations with the government, with the most recent agreements being between FARC and the Government.
Stage: Pre-negotiation/process
Conflict nature: Government
Peace process: Colombia III - Arango
Parties: Por el Gobiemo Nacional: Victor G. Ricardo, Alto Comisionado para Ia Paz; Luis Norberto Guerra, Vicepresidente Camara de Representantes; Fabio Valencia Cossio, Negociador; Camilo Gomez Alzate, Negociador; Juan Gabriel Uribe, Negociador; Miguel Pinedo Vidal, Comite Tematico; Ciro Ramirez, Vicepresidente Senado; Luis Carlos Villegas, Presidente de la Andi.

Por las FARC-EP: Raul Reyes, Vocero de las F ARC EP; Joaquin Gomez, Negociador; Fabian Ramirez, Negociador; Ivan Rios, Coordinador Comite Tematico; Simon Trinidad, Comite Tematico; Felipe Rincon, Comite Tematico; Olga Lucia Marin, Comision Internacional.
Third parties: -
Description: Agreed account of fact-finding mission to Spain to inquire about Spanish system of autonomous regions, social security, and commerce.

Agreement document: CO_000223_Comunicado FARC-Gobierno del viaje a Europa 23 de febrero de 2000 - tr.pdf (opens in new tab) | Download PDF
Agreement document (original language): CO_000223_Comunicado FARC-Gobierno del viaje a Europa, 23 de febrero de 2000_ES.pdf (opens in new tab)| Download PDF

Groups

Children/youth: No specific mention.
Disabled persons: No specific mention.
Elderly/age: No specific mention.
Migrant workers: No specific mention.
Racial/ethnic/national group: No specific mention.
Religious groups: No specific mention.
Indigenous people: No specific mention.
Other groups: No specific mention.
Refugees/displaced persons: No specific mention.
Social class: No specific mention.

Gender

Women, girls and gender: No specific mention.
Men and boys: No specific mention.
LGBTI: No specific mention.
Family: No specific mention.

State definition

Nature of state (general): No specific mention.
State configuration: Page 1,
... Our agenda for work during these three days has allowed us, first of all, to see the Spanish system of autonomous communities from up close with a visit to the Community of
Valencia. Talks with the president of the community, Eduardo Zaplana, the two deputy
presidents and associated councillors showed the value modern and democratic Spain
attaches to a local, decentralised and autonomous society in the framework of the
territorial unity of nation.
Autonomy has transferred full territorial powers to the communities in areas such as
education, health, housing, tourism and regional channels. The vibrancy of Valencia shows
the confidence of the people in their system and the possibility of achieving the highest
standards of well-being. ...
Self determination: No specific mention.
Referendum: No specific mention.
State symbols: No specific mention.
Independence/secession: No specific mention.
Accession/unification: No specific mention.
Border delimitation: No specific mention.
Cross-border provision: No specific mention.

Governance

Political institutions (new or reformed): No specific mention.
Elections: No specific mention.
Electoral commission: No specific mention.
Political parties reform: No specific mention.
Civil society: No specific mention.
Traditional/religious leaders: No specific mention.
Public administration: No specific mention.
Constitution: No specific mention.

Power sharing

Political power sharing: No specific mention.
Territorial power sharing: No specific mention.
Economic power sharing: No specific mention.
Military power sharing: No specific mention.

Human rights and equality

Human rights/RoL general: No specific mention.
Bill of rights/similar: No specific mention.
Treaty incorporation: No specific mention.
Civil and political rights: No specific mention.
Socio-economic rights: No specific mention.

Rights related issues

Citizenship: No specific mention.
Democracy: Page 1,
... Our agenda for work during these three days has allowed us, first of all, to see the Spanish system of autonomous communities from up close with a visit to the Community of
Valencia. Talks with the president of the community, Eduardo Zaplana, the two deputy
presidents and associated councillors showed the value modern and democratic Spain
attaches to a local, decentralised and autonomous society in the framework of the
territorial unity of nation. ...

Page 2,
... CEOE also reaffirmed its good institutional relations with union organisations and shared its
experiences of bipartite or tripartite initiatives on labour relations with the various Spanish
governments since the establishment of democracy. We are sure this example will be
helpful to Colombia. ...
Detention procedures: No specific mention.
Media and communication: No specific mention.
Mobility/access: No specific mention.
Protection measures: No specific mention.
Other: No specific mention.

Rights institutions

NHRI: No specific mention.
Regional or international human rights institutions: No specific mention.

Justice sector reform

Criminal justice and emergency law: No specific mention.
State of emergency provisions: No specific mention.
Judiciary and courts: No specific mention.
Prisons and detention: No specific mention.
Traditional Laws: No specific mention.

Socio-economic reconstruction

Development or socio-economic reconstruction: No specific mention.
National economic plan: No specific mention.
Natural resources: No specific mention.
International funds: No specific mention.
Business: No specific mention.
Taxation: No specific mention.
Banks: No specific mention.

Land, property and environment

Land reform/rights: No specific mention.
Pastoralist/nomadism rights: No specific mention.
Cultural heritage: No specific mention.
Environment: No specific mention.
Water or riparian rights or access: No specific mention.

Security sector

Security Guarantees: No specific mention.
Ceasefire: No specific mention.
Police: No specific mention.
Armed forces: Page 2,
... We had lunch at the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs during a work session presided over
by Eduardo Gutierrez, Director General of Foreign Policy for Ibero-America, in the presence
of the Spanish ambassador to Colombia, Yaco Pico, and the Colombian ambassador to Spain,
Carlos Julio Ardila. In a frank and constructive dialogue, we discussed issues such as
European cooperation in the peace process, the need to produce peace results during the
negotiations, the urgency of promoting respect for life and for the freedom of Colombians,
and the role of the armed forces in a peaceful society. ...
DDR: No specific mention.
Intelligence services: No specific mention.
Parastatal/rebel and opposition group forces: No specific mention.
Withdrawal of foreign forces: No specific mention.
Corruption: Page 3,
... The political leaders of Spain have expressed their willingness to help Colombians achieve
peace. Issues such as fighting drug trafficking, poverty and corruption were discussed with
President Trillo, stressing our desire to reach peace via political negotiations. ...
Crime/organised crime: No specific mention.
Drugs: Page 3,
... The political leaders of Spain have expressed their willingness to help Colombians achieve
peace. Issues such as fighting drug trafficking, poverty and corruption were discussed with
President Trillo, stressing our desire to reach peace via political negotiations. ...
Terrorism: No specific mention.

Transitional justice

Transitional justice general: No specific mention.
Amnesty/pardon: No specific mention.
Courts: No specific mention.
Mechanism: No specific mention.
Prisoner release: No specific mention.
Vetting: No specific mention.
Victims: No specific mention.
Missing persons: No specific mention.
Reparations: No specific mention.
Reconciliation: No specific mention.

Implementation

UN signatory: No specific mention.
Other international signatory: No specific mention.
Referendum for agreement: No specific mention.
International mission/force/similar: No specific mention.
Enforcement mechanism: No specific mention.
Related cases: No specific mention.
Source: Center for International Policy, hard copy on file.

COMMUNICATION BY THE REVOLUTIONARY ARMED FORCES OF COLOMBIA AND THE GOVERNMENT ON THEIR VISIT TO EUROPE

COMMUNICATION OF THE ROUNDTABLE FOR DIALOGUE IN SPAIN (I)

23 February 2000

Today we completed our visit to Spain, where we have received an extremely warm welcome from the government and the Spanish people.

Our agenda for work during these three days has allowed us, first of all, to see the Spanish system of autonomous communities from up close with a visit to the Community of Valencia.

Talks with the president of the community, Eduardo Zaplana, the two deputy presidents and associated councillors showed the value modern and democratic Spain attaches to a local, decentralised and autonomous society in the framework of the territorial unity of nation.

Autonomy has transferred full territorial powers to the communities in areas such as education, health, housing, tourism and regional channels.

The vibrancy of Valencia shows the confidence of the people in their system and the possibility of achieving the highest standards of well-being.

In Benidorm, in addition to the heartfelt tribute by residents of the municipality to Colombia, we met with business figures in the local chamber of commerce who reiterated their confidence in our country and their desire to develop bilateral economic links.

The agenda continued in Madrid, where we had an informative session on the operation of the Spanish social security system, headed by the Director General of the Social Security Institute, Fernando Gómez Ferreiro and members of his staff.

The Spanish system is an advanced social network, with funding and clear benefits in areas such as employment, pensions and healthcare.

We were offered permanent consultancy, which will be taken into account by the National Roundtable for Dialogue and Negotiation.

We also met with the Secretary General of the Spanish International Cooperation Agency, Jesús Gracia, who offered Spanish experience and resources to contribute to implementing the agreements arising from the National Roundtable for Dialogue and Negotiation between the government and FARC–EP.

We exchanged experiences and opinions with representatives of the General Workers’ Union (Unión General de Trabajadores, UGT) and the Workers’ Commissions.

We were impressed by the constructive experience of negotiations between unions and the business community during this period in the history of Spain, marked by the strengthening of its economy and democracy.

Union activity is currently exemplary in Spanish society.

We had lunch at the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs during a work session presided over by Eduardo Gutierrez, Director General of Foreign Policy for Ibero-America, in the presence of the Spanish ambassador to Colombia, Yaco Pico, and the Colombian ambassador to Spain, Carlos Julio Ardila.

In a frank and constructive dialogue, we discussed issues such as European cooperation in the peace process, the need to produce peace results during the negotiations, the urgency of promoting respect for life and for the freedom of Colombians, and the role of the armed forces in a peaceful society.

We met with the leadership of the Spanish Confederation of Business Organisations (Confederación Espanola de Organizaciones Empresariales, CEOE), one of the most important institutions in the Spanish private sector.

Once again, Spanish businesses expressed their confidence in the Colombian economy and the peace process led by President Andrés Pastrana with FARC–EP.

CEOE also reaffirmed its good institutional relations with union organisations and shared its experiences of bipartite or tripartite initiatives on labour relations with the various Spanish governments since the establishment of democracy.

We are sure this example will be helpful to Colombia.

Today in the morning, we met with the president of the Congress of Deputies, Federico Trillo, who expressed his satisfaction with the major peace initiative to which our country is committed.

The political leaders of Spain have expressed their willingness to help Colombians achieve peace.

Issues such as fighting drug trafficking, poverty and corruption were discussed with President Trillo, stressing our desire to reach peace via political negotiations.

The delegation expressed its condolences to the Spanish parliament for the assassination of the Basque member of parliament Fernando Buesa, which occurred yesterday.

Each and every violent death hurts us, without any distinctions.

We held a minute of silence in solidarity with the Spanish people and all Colombians that have lost their lives.

Finally, we explained that we are working together to achieve peaceful coexistence in Colombia, a Colombia for all with social justice.

Por el Gobiemo Nacional:

Victor G. Ricardo,

Alto Comisionado para Ia Paz

Luis Norberto Guerra,

Vicepresidente Camara de Representantes.

Fabio Valencia Cossio,

Negociador

Camilo Gomez Alzate,

Negociador

Juan Gabriel Uribe,

Negociador.

Miguel Pinedo Vidal,

Comite Tematico.

Ciro Ramirez,

Vicepresidente Senado.

Luis Carlos Villegas,

Presidente de la Andi.

Por las FARC-EP:

Raul Reyes

Vocero de las F ARC EP

Joaquin Gomez,

Negociador

Fabian Ramirez,

Negociador

Ivan Rios,

Coordinador Comite Tematico.

Simon Trinidad,

Comite Tematico.

Felipe Rincon,

Comite Tematico.

Olga Lucia Marin,

Comision Internacional.