The Colombian government and the country's second-largest rebel group said Thursday they were launching a formal peace process. Colombia's peace envoy and the head of the National Liberation Army (ELN) said in Havana, Cuba they had agreed to create a political environment for peace and to include non-governmental members of Colombian society in formal talks. Both sides presented proposals for topics to be discussed in the next phase, but did not provide specifics. Government representative Luis Carlos Restrepo and ELN military chief Antonio Garcia met in a closed-door session with representatives of other countries helping to mediate the peace process. Meeting in Havana as a neutral location in recent days, the government, rebel representatives, and members of civil society have discussed possible compromises to de-mine rural areas, stop displacement of Colombians caused by violence, and release rebel prisoners-a top ELN demand.
